I'lKK. 153 



of the other fishes AV^hich had been placed in this pond were 

 one Tench, that weighed a pound and a half, and eight Crucians 

 of about a pound each;" and he adds, "I cannot have the 

 smallest doubt that the Pike devoured the fish that were missing, 

 and these nine that remained only escaped becau.se they were 

 rather too large for these Pikes to swallow." But in addition 

 to this, the same gentleman remarks, that in fact tlie Pike is 

 doubly destructive of Tench, as Avell as of other fish, "not only 

 devouring such as are of a size suitable to the capacity of his 

 jaws and stomach, but also by seizing, mutilating, and finally 

 destroying others which are too large to be so disposed of." 



The formidable array of teeth in the mouth of the Pike must 

 present an effectual barrier to the escape of any prey when 

 once it has been grasped Avithin the jaAvs: but this armature is 

 of further use in crushing the life from the creature that is 

 seized; and then it is conveyed away to a retreat, in order to 

 its being passed into the stomach in a more deliberate manner. 

 The usual haunts of the Pike are in the stiller Avaters of 

 sloAV-floAving riA^ers, and ponds AA'here Aveeds are groAving; in 

 which situations it lies in Avait for any tempting prey that may 

 come Avithin sight, and from Avhich it makes excursions in 

 search of any living thing that may satisfy its hunger. On this 

 it rushes Avith a violence avcII described in an extract given by 

 Dr. Badham, in his "Fish Tattle," from Avhich Ave quote it: — 

 ^'Shrouded from observation in his solitary retreat, he folloAvs 

 with his eye the motions of the shoals of fish that Avander 

 heedlessly along; he marks the Avater-rat SAAdmming to his 

 burroAV, the ducklings paddling among the Avater-Ai'eeds, the 

 dabchick and the Avaterhen leisurely sAvimming on the surface; 

 he selects his A'ictim, and, like the tiger springing from the jungle, 

 he rushes forth, seldom indeed missing his aim; there is a sudden 

 rush, circle after circle forms on the surface of the Avater, and 

 all is still again in an instant;" and in this manner it sometimes 

 happens that a pond is almost. Avholly deprived of its most 

 valued inhabitants, the solitary Pike being left, like some human 

 tyrants, to reign and starve in gloomy grandeur over a kingdom 

 destitute of inhabitants. 



This fish is known in almost every part of England except 

 Cornwall; and the lake or pond of Slapton Ley, in Devonshire, 

 is the only part of that county in Avhich I can find it has 

 VOL IV X 



