CH^TODONS. 109 



" The relation of this uncommon action of this 

 cunning fish, raised the Governor's curiosity ; 

 though it came well attested, yet he was deter- 

 mined, if possible, to be convinced of the truth 

 by ocular demonstration. For that purpose he 

 ordered a large wide tub to be filled with sea- 

 water, then had some of these fish caught, and 

 put into it, which was changed every other day. 

 In a while they seemed reconciled to their con- 

 finement ; then he determined to try the experi- 

 ment. 



" A slender stick, with a fly pinned on at its 

 end, was placed in such a direction on the side of 

 the vessel as the fish could strike it. It was with 

 inexpressible delight that he daily saw these fish 

 exercising their skill in shooting at the fly with 

 an amazing velocity, and never missed their 

 mark." * 



As this beautiful little trait of instinctive skill 

 has been often noticed, we have thought that our 

 readers might like to have the very words in which 

 it was originally communicated to the world, and 

 have, therefore, cited the Memoir of Dr. Schlosser. 

 It has since been witnessed by M. Reinwardt, 

 who repeated the facts to M. Valenciennes. Ac- 

 cording to this naturalist, the Chinese inhabitants 

 of Java are fond of keeping these little fishes in 

 vessels of glass and porcelain for their amusement ; 

 frequently suspending an insect by a thread, or 

 fastenino' it to a stick above the maro^ins. 



We think it not improbable that several other 

 species of this Family, especially those in which 

 the muzzle is produced, would be found to pos- 

 sess, and to make use of a similar instinct, if 

 * Phil. Trans. 1764, vol. liv. p. 89. 



