Chapter III: Fishes and Mollusca

BY G. SHERRIFF TYE.

I.--FISHES.

The waters within easy reach of Birmingham afford to those interested in the Natural History of Fishes excellent opportunities for study, and are much resorted to by anglers. To those who do not incline to the study of fish or fishing, it will probably be a matter of surprise to know the abundance and excellence of the individuals, and the variety of species occurring within an hour’s walk of the centre of our town. Of the river Tame, a well-known angler states: “In my opinion this is a remarkable little river; in three and a half miles it contains in abundance at least ten species of fish, viz., trout, pike, chub, tench, perch, roach, rudd, dace, gudgeon, minnow, all of which, except the pike, attain to a size equal to any in rivers or pools within a hundred miles of Birmingham.” Large fish are not so common now as formerly, but probably this river will recover, and attain its wonted excellence, when the “Black Country” sewerage works are completed.

The river Cole is a fine trout stream. The river Blythe, Coleshill, is an excellent stream, especially for eels. The river Trent with its tributaries, the Anker, Tame, and Mease, is celebrated for many species of fish, and is a great resort of anglers. Earlswood and the Corporation reservoirs, the pools at Sutton Coldfield, Great Barr Park, King’s Norton, Barnt Green, and many others are all well stocked with fish, and will render fine examples to all who seek them.

The writer’s thanks are cordially rendered to members of the Birmingham Piscatorial Association and to other gentlemen for valuable information, kindly given, respecting the localities and habitats of Fishes. The weights of the largest specimens recorded, have all been verified by the anglers who have taken them.

The classification adopted in this paper is that of “Yarrell’s British Fishes,” second edition, 1841.

The number of local species recorded is thirty-three.

ACANTHOPTERYGII.

Perch, _Perca fluviatilis_, accommodates itself to either river or pool, the former producing the cleanest and handsomest fish. It has been taken of fine size, 4½ lbs., Rotton Park Reservoir; 3½ lbs., Tardebigg; 3 lbs., Rotton Park Reservoir; 2 lbs. to 3 lbs. from Old Soho Pool, now the site of a Railway Wharf.

Ruffe, _Acerina vulgaris_, not uncommon, river Trent, Alrewas. The writer has taken a number from a pool near Wednesbury.

Miller’s Thumb, _Cottus gobio_, is to be met with in most of our little rivulets, lurking under stones.

The Rough-tailed three-spined Stickleback, _Gasterosteus trachurus_; ubiquitous. The males in the breeding season are resplendent in scarlet and green, and fight for supremacy. It is remarkable with what ease individuals accommodate themselves to sea water. The Smooth-tailed Stickleback, _G. leiurus_; the Short-spined Stickleback, _G. brachycentus_; the Four-spined Stickleback, _G. spinulosus_ and the Ten-spined Stickleback, _G. pungitius_; although not so common as _G. trachurus_, are all found in ditches communicating with the river Anker, at Tamworth.

ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGII.

Carp, _Cyprinus carpio_. The writer has had one of large size from Plants Brook Reservoir, 7½ lbs., and has seen a larger one in the pool. The largest recorded was from Sandwell Pool, 12 lbs.

Crucian Carp, _C. carassius_, is not uncommon; the writer has seen numbers of them taken from small cattle pits on a farm in Warwickshire. It is a pretty and hardy species in an aquarium.

Gold Carp, _C. auratus_, the well known “gold-fish,” used to breed in a pool at West Bromwich, into which warm water from an engine flowed, but it is not found there now.

Barbel, _Barbus vulgaris_, is found in abundance in the River Trent, but in general size not to be compared with those taken in the Thames. River Trent, 7½ lbs. and 8 lbs.

Gudgeon, _Gobio fluviatilis_, in streams fairly common, also in canals, but rare in pools. Earlswood Reservoir.

Tench, _Tinca vulgaris_, not uncommon; of large size at Handsworth, Sutton Coldfield, and near Barnt Green, in pools; plentiful at the latter place, rivers Tame, Anker, &c.; 3 lbs. Edgbaston Pool. It is one of the easiest fishes to keep in confinement. A golden variety of this species is bred in the private pools of gentlemen in this country, it is said to have been introduced from Germany. Fine specimens were to be seen at the recent Fisheries Exhibition in London.

Bream, _Abramis brama_, in the larger rivers. When this species assembles, after an overnight’s baiting, it may often be taken in great numbers. 5 lbs. River Trent. The writer has known a few hours’ fishing in a Warwickshire stream to yield sufficient fine fishes of this species to fill a hamper as much as a couple of men could carry.

Roach, _Leuciscus rutilus_, occurs very commonly and of large size; old Soho Pool, 3 lbs. weight, a truly noble fish; Sharpley Reservoir, 2 lbs.

Dace, _Leuciscus vulgaris_, River Trent, 14 ozs.

Chub, _Leuciscus cephalus_, River Tame, 5½ lbs. 5 lbs. and many approaching that weight.

Rudd or Red-eye, _Leuciscus erythropthalmus_. In the River Tame.

Bleak, _Leuciscus alburnus_. In streams and in Earlswood Reservoir. A friend remarks, “I have taken this species in Earlswood Reservoir, and Gudgeon also, the only instance I have met with where these two river fish have occurred in a pool.” They were probably bred from escaped bait.

Minnow, _Leuciscus phoxinus_, common in many streams.

Loach, _Cobitis barbatula_, is found in streamlets in many places. The writer has taken it at Handsworth. It is said to be delicate food.

The Spined-Loach, _Botia tænia_, is rarer than the preceding. It has been taken in the Rivers Anker and Tame at Tamworth.

Pike, _Esox lucius_, is found in large pools and rivers. 26 lbs.; 25 lbs. 6 oz., Earlswood Reservoir; 23 lbs., Middleton Pool; 22 lbs. 6 oz., Pebble Mill Pool; 12 and 13 lbs., Sutton Park. The writer could relate many instances of the voracity of the Pike, and incidents of sport,--one must suffice. A Pike was hooked near some floodgates in the Tame, and on taking out the hook he found that it had gone through a Water-Shrew, which the fish had just taken, and still held in its mouth.

Salmon, the king of British fishes, _Salmo salar_, comes legitimately within our radius of twenty miles. It has been taken from the Eel traps in the River Tame at Tamworth; in the River Trent at Yoxall; and in the River Severn at Bewdley. At the last mentioned place a specimen weighing 40 lbs. has been captured.

Common Trout, _S. fario_, Bourne Brook, Fazeley, 7 lbs.; River Tame, 5½ lbs., 4 lbs. several, and many below that weight; River Trent, 4 lbs. 2 ozs.; River Cole, Packington.

Lochleven Trout, _S. Levenensis_. In April, 1884, the Water Department of the Corporation of Birmingham stocked their new reservoir (90 acres) at Shustoke with 3,000 of this fish. The reservoir at Witton was stocked with 2,000 fish at the same time. They were yearlings, about 3 inches long, and are now (August, 1886) from 2 lbs. to 3¼ lbs. in weight. These reservoirs will therefore in a few years be good places for this species of Trout.

Grayling, _Thymallus vulgaris_, River Trent, Shenstone, 2 lbs.; Alrewas, 17 ozs.; Bourne Brook, Fazeley.

SUBBRACHIAL MALACOPTERYGII.

The Burbot, _Lota vulgaris_, the only British species of the family of the Gadidæ that lives permanently in fresh water, is found in the River Anker at Tamworth, the largest fish recorded being 5 lbs.; 3 lbs. 2 ozs.

APODAL MALACOPTERYGII.

The Sharp-nosed Eel, _Anguilla acutirostris_, and the Broad-nosed Eel, _Anguilla latirostris_. In rivers and pools generally. Fine specimens of _A. acutirostris_ are taken in the River Blythe, some weighing 4 lbs. each. The third species of Eel mentioned by Yarrell, the Snig, _A. mediorostris_, occurs with the two others in the Worcestershire Avon, and doubtless finds its way into the Arrow and other tributary streams. It differs from the two preceding species, being much smaller, individuals rarely exceeding half a pound each; and in its habit of roving and feeding by day. It is of superior flavour to its congeners. The Snig may easily be distinguished by the first five cervical vertebræ, which are smooth and free from spinous processes, always present in the sharp-nosed and broad-nosed Eels.

CHONDROPTERYGII.

Lampern or river Lamprey, _Petromyzon fluviatilis_. In the River Trent, and also the Tame and in streamlets, Sutton Park, &c.

II.--MOLLUSCA.

The district around Birmingham is an excellent field for terrestrial and fluviatile Mollusca. Within a circle of twelve miles radius, which includes a portion of the Counties of Warwick, Stafford, and Worcester, can be found fifty per cent. of the species and varieties enumerated in Dr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys’ “British Conchology.” No special quality of soil or geological condition is required for the existence of Molluscs; whatever the nature of the ground may be, some species or other will reward the searcher. The number of terrestrial species is usually the greatest where limestone is present; indeed some species do not seem able to maintain their existence away from it, _e.g._, _Helix ericetorum_, _H. virgata_, _H. arbustorum_, and _Cyclostoma elegans_. The still beautiful grounds of Dudley Castle were once “happy hunting grounds” for the collectors of Mollusca, but the smoke of a thousand fires has cast a baleful influence over the locality. The dead shells of species, once abundant, are conclusive evidence that the Molluscan fauna do not now enjoy a congenial atmosphere in that neighbourhood. _Helix arbustorum_, may, notwithstanding, still be found there, its nearest proximity to Birmingham.

Among the noticeable species of the district may be mentioned _Testacella Haliotidea_, found in the garden of a florist at Redditch; _Succinea virescens_, (Morelet) = _S. putris_ var. _vitrea_ (Jeffreys), which the writer has taken near Plants Brook Reservoir; _Zonites glaber_, found near Solihull; _Helix Cantiana_,[62] Henley-in-Arden; _H. virgata_, Grafton, near Alcester; _Balia perversa_, Fenny Compton, Northamptonshire. The three last named species are outside the twelve miles radius.

CONCHIFERA.

The Midlands are rich in fluviatile forms, nearly all the known British species occur. Those worth noting among the Sphæriidæ are--_Sphærium corneum_, var. _Scaldiana_, Acock’s Green; _S. corneum_, var. _flavescens_, Plants Brook; _S. rivicola_ and _S. ovale_, Acock’s Green and Rushall Canal. _S. lacustre_ is not uncommon, and is found abundantly in a pond at Handsworth.

The Pisidia are well represented, four out of our five species occurring. It is curious that the large form _Pisidium amnicum_ has not hitherto been taken in the district. The writer took _P. roseum_[63] from several ponds at Meriden in 1885-6.

The Unionidæ are extremely plentiful, and the two species _Unio tumidus_ and _U. pictorum_ attain to an immense size. In the writer’s cabinet are examples of _U. pictorum_ of the following dimensions--2¹⁄₁₆ in. × 5¹⁄₁₆, 2¹⁄₁₆ in. × 5¼, 2³⁄₁₆ in. × 5¼, some of them weighing nearly 4 ounces avoirdupois; and of _U. tumidus_, 2⁵⁄₁₆ in. × 4¾, 2⅜ in. × 4⅞, 2¾ in. × 5, the weight of some examples reaching nearly 6 ounces avoirdupois. These are probably the finest shells of their kind ever taken anywhere. _Anodonta cygnea_ is common, and its varieties _incrassata_, _Zellensis_, _pallida_, and _rostrata_ occur. _A. anatina_, and the varieties _radiata_ and _ventricosa_ are found; handsome shells of the latter occur at Barr Park and in the river Blythe at Coleshill. _Dreissena polymorpha_ is commonly distributed.

GASTEROPODA.

In the order Pectinibranchiata, _Neritina fluviatilis_, the only representative in England of a genus of world-wide distribution, has occurred in the river Tame at Aston, but the writer believes is not now to be found there. One of our two species of Paludinidæ, _Paludina vivipara_,[64] _Bythinia tentaculata_, _B. Leachii_, and _Valvata piscinalis_ make up the list of operculate water snails.

Among the Limnæidæ examples of the following genera occur. In the genus Planorbis we find all the species except _Planorbis lineatus_, excluding of course _P. dilatatus_ (Gould), which only occurs at Manchester, having been introduced on cotton from America. The epiphragm formed by _P. spirorbis_, in summer, when the solar heat has dried up its habitat, is a singular item of its economy. It is supposed that this habit enabled _P. dilatatus_ to reach our shores. _Physa hypnorum_ and _P. fontinalis_ are both represented; they are charming inhabitants of an aquarium, their habit of thread spinning,[65] especially in the young state, makes them lively creatures; the lobed mantle of _P. fontinalis_, nearly enclosing the shell, gives a peculiar character to the animal.

Of the six species of Limnæa[66] which occur, it will not be needful to mention more than one, which is the rarest with us, viz.: _Limnæa glabra_. Both species of Ancylus are moderately common.

Of terrestrial Mollusca we enumerate the following Limacidæ--_Arion ater_, _A. hortensis_, _Limax marginatus_, _L. flavus_, _L. agrestis_, _L. arborum_, _L. maximus_, and as before said one of the Testacellidæ viz., _T. Haliotidea_. Among the Helicidæ of course the common kinds are all present. Of the genus Zonites we have the following species: _Zonites cellarius_, _Z. glaber_, _Z. alliarius_, and its var. _viridula_, _Z. nitidulus_, _Z. purus_, and its var. _margaritacea_, _Z. radiatulus_, _Z. nitidus_, _Z. excavatus_ (one only, at Knowle), _Z. crystallinus_. Among the smaller species of Helix, attention may be called to the following: _H. aculeata_, a minute spiny coronet; _H. pygmæa_, the smallest of known Helices; _Helix fusca_, taken in two localities only, at Knowle and Selly Oak. Of the four species of Pupa found in Britain, two only occur, _Pupa umbilicata_ and _P. marginata_. Of the latter species a colony of the white variety has been found inhabiting a wall at Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire. Only two out of our eleven species of Vertigo have occurred, viz.: _Vertigo edentula_ and its variety _columella_, and _V. pygmæa_. Two Clausiliæ are found, _Clausilia laminata_ and _C. rugosa_. It is somewhat singular that of the four species inhabiting this country the last named is ubiquitous, while _C. Rolphii_ and _C. biplicata_ are local. The writer has taken the rare albino form of _C. rugosa_, at Selly Oak. That exquisite shell, _Cochlicopa tridens_, var. _crystallina_, has been taken in three places; the type is largely distributed in our neighbourhood, whereas in others it is rare, while _C. lubrica_ is widespread in England. _Achatina acicula_, dead shells only, Dudley Castle. _Carychium minimum_ is commonly distributed.

In giving this outline of the Molluscan Fauna of our neighbourhood, the writer has called attention to the valuable papers on Embryology by Professor E. Ray Lankester, as shedding great light on the affinities of the Mollusca with other groups.