tween the minds of all beasts possessing a back- 

 bone, and this, too, we can do without in any way 

 ascribing to the lower animals such a high degree 

 of psychical development as that which distin- 

 guishes us as humans. 



And that rays, therefore, play solely and pur- 

 posely for pure diversion, let us not doubt. The 

 well-springs from which even a gnat derives its 

 liking for light and warmth are the same as those 

 which give rise to the love for the pleasures of 

 sport in every normal human breast. 



Nor is it improbable that the enjoyment of those 

 whose actions I am describing was as keen as that 

 of the kittens whose antics I have said were simi- 

 lar. The bodies of the rays, being broad and very 

 flat, did not allow the lightning quickness of move- 

 ment that is in the young cat, but the tactics 

 employed were much the same. At first one would 

 rest upon the bottom, its wide wings everywhere 

 in contact, where it awaited in seeming apathy the 

 stealthy approach of its two companions. Then, no 

 sooner were these latter near than the resting ray, 

 with that graceful gliding motion of its wings, 

 which is characteristic only of this peculiar fish, 

 curvetted upward and around, describing a short 



[i97] 



