256 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



We must here state a remarkable observation relative to the animal 

 kingdom, from which it will be seen how great a difference exists be- 

 tween the population of the land and that of the sea. The large car- 

 nivorous animals, like the lion, the tiger, &c, hardly ever live in herds; 

 as a general rule one only finds a couple of them occupying a consider- 

 able extent of territory. "This is our own exclusive kingdom," say the 

 lion and lioness; "whoever hunts here is a poacher, and will have cause 

 to regret his presumption. Here there is never too much game for us 

 and our young ones." 



In the sea we find still greater carnivorous animals than the lion and 

 the tiger. Among these we must mention the different kinds of dol- 

 phins, which, from a scientific stand-point, must be classed with the 

 •whales, because they also have lungs, and are obliged to come to the 

 surface to breathe. Although not as large as the whale, the dolphin 

 must nevertheless be classed among the large sea animals, for its length 

 varies from eight to twenty and even forty feet. In olden times the 

 dolphin was considered a friend of man. It was even said that the dol- 

 phin could show affection ; but, to tell the truth, its only love is for 

 prey, and the dolphins are in reality barbarous gluttons, which make 

 said havoc among the inhabitants of the sea. This bloodthirsty animal 

 does not live in couples like the carnivorous land animals, but they are 

 found in large herds or schools. Could this be possible, if those animals 

 on which these pirates of the sea live did not increase in extraordinary 

 numbers 1 



The whale also lives on live animals, but these are necessarily small, 

 for its narrow throat is utterly disproportionate to its immense body. 

 It may well be imagined in what enormous numbers, and how close 

 together, these little marine animals must swim, if they are to satisfy 

 the appetite of a monster like the whale. 



In passing from the whales and dolphins to the real fish, we find that 

 they too, with hardly an exception, are carnivorous. It may truly be 

 said that the water is an enormous battle-field, where life is only main- 

 tained by constant slaughter. It is very easy to observe the cruel and 

 gluttonous character of the fish. Put some of the little fish — for ex- 

 ample, sticklebacks, so common in all our brooks — in a large glass full 

 of water. As they are very lively, they will, in the beginning, afford 

 more pleasure than gold fish, which please the eye by their beautiful 

 red color, but which are so slow in their motions that one might think 

 they are pining away or are sick. If a little worm has the misfortune 

 to attract the attention of the sticklebacks, it is made the object of vio- 

 lent attacks, and is soon devoured. If you put in the glass small fish, 

 hardly a few days old, and not any larger than little worms, not one 

 of them will escape these greedy gluttons. So greedy are these little 

 wretches after flesh that if properly fed they can easily be tamed. As 

 soon as some small pieces of flesh are thrown into the water they will 

 approach rapidly, and by repeating this experiment four or five times, 



