FISHES The fishes of Leicestershire are those usually found in inland or midland counties, and with the exception of the salmon, which is of accidental occur- rence, would be those found in the adjoining counties, and call for no special introduction. TELEOSTEANS ACANTHOPTERYGII 1. Perch. Perca fluvlatllis, Linn. Commonly distributed. In the Leicester Museum there is a cast of a specimen taken at Saddington in 1885 by Mr. J. Benskin, which weighed just under 3 Ib. Mr. J. Smith presented one to the Leicester Museum, taken by Mr. Roche at Aylestone, 17 July, 1 886, which weighed 2 Ib. 2 oz. Mr. Keen, the fish- ing tackle-maker of Church-gate, reported a fine perch taken at Wistow, some years ago, by Mr. Blakiston, which turned the scale at 5 Ib. In the early part of 1888, Thornton Reservoir, which absolutely swarmed with perch, to the entire destruction of the trout- fishing, was cleaned out and netted, when some fine perch were taken, the late Dr. Macaulay reporting a brace which weighed 9 Ib. ; and Pinchen showed me, amongst others, one from there weighing 3f Ib. I have taken at Thornton Reservoir several specimens with blunt heads or rounded noses, evidently a mal- formation, which appears, however, persistent. 2. Ruff", dcerina cernua, Linn. Locally, Daddy Ruff, Jack Ruff, Pope. According to Harley, it occurs in most of our canals and small streams, especially in those which take their rise in Charnwood Forest. It has been taken from the Soar at Aylestone, and occurs in other streams throughout the county. 3. Miller's Thumb. Cottus gpbio, Linn. Locally, Bullhead, Tommy Logge. Commonly distributed. Harley noted it as com- mon in the stream which flows through Bradgate Park. ANACANTHINI 4. Burbot. Lota vulgaris, Cuv. Locally, Burbolt, Eel-pout. Harley recorded it as ' an irregular and uncertain visitant to the rivers of the county, save the Trent, where it occurs plentifully.' It has been occasionally taken in the Soar about Kegworth, and Harley once saw one caught in an eel-net at Zouch Mills, near Loughborough. HEMIBRANCHII 5. Three-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus aculeatus, Linn. Locally, Tiddler, Jack Bannel, Robin, Soldier, Stuttle, Stut, Tittle-bat. Commonly distributed. 6. Four-spined Linn. Stickleback. Gastrosteus spinulosus, I am enabled to add this to the county fauna, since the publication of my Vertebrate Animals of Leicester- shire and Rutland, on the authority of Mr. H. Butler Johnson, B.A., of St. George's Lodge, Swannington, who tells me that about 1883 he obtained a specimen in a brook at Thringstone. 7. Nine-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus fungitius, Linn. Locally, Tinker. Generally distributed, but perhaps not so common as the three-spined Stickleback. HAPLOMI 8. Pike. Esox lucius, Linn. Locally, Jack. Commonly distributed, attaining a large size in pools such as those of Bosworth and Saddington. In 1 8 1 1 Harley saw a brace of pike taken in a pond at Dishley, the property of Mr. March Phillipps, each of which weighed over 25 Ib. Keen told me that, sometime about 1845-50 one of 33 Ib. (which he saw) was netted at Barrow Mill-dam, after having broken through three trammel-nets. I saw a mounted specimen at Bosworth House, which was captured in April, 1869, in Bosworth Pool, and weighed 26 Ib. The Leicester Museum donation-book records, under 108
