FISH ANGER, JEALOUSY, CUEIOSITY, ETC. 247 



the trespasser, show rage and fury in every movement. 

 Of course, here, as elsewhere, it is impossible to be sure 

 how far apparent expression of an emotion is due to the 

 presence of that mental state which we recognise as the 

 emotion in ourselves ; but still the best guide we have to 

 follow is that of apparent expression. 



Following this principle, we are also entitled to at- 

 tribute to fish the emotions conducive to play; for nothing 

 can well be more expressive of sportive glee than many of 

 their movements. As for jealousy, the fights of many 

 male fish for the possession of females constitutes evi- 

 dence of emotion which would be called by this name in 

 the higher animals. Schneider, in his recent work already 

 often quoted, says that he has observed a male fish (Labrus) 

 show jealousy only towards other individual males of his 

 own species chasing these away from the neighbourhood 

 of his female, but not objecting to the approach of fish of 

 other species. 



Curiosity is shown by the readiness, or even eagerness, 

 with which fish will approach to examine any unfamiliar 

 object. So much is this the case that fishermen, like 

 hunters, sometimes trade upon this faculty: 



And the fisher, with his lamp 

 And spear, about the low rocks damp 

 Crept, and struck the fish which came 

 To worship the delusive flame. 1 



Stephenson, the engineer, on sinking lighted lanterns 

 in the water, also found that fish were attracted to them. 8 



Special Habits. 



As curious instances of special instincts in fish we may 

 notice the well-known habit of the angler (Lophius pis- 

 cator\ which conceals itself in mud and seaweed, while 

 waving in the water certain filaments with which it is 

 provided above its snout. Other fish, attracted by these 

 moving objects, approach, and are thereupon seized by the 



1 Shelley, Lines written in the Bat/ of Lerici. 

 * See Smiles, Lives of Engineers, vol. iii., p. 69. 



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