MULLETS. 157 



" This fish never goes to a great distance from 

 land, but delights in shallow water, when the 

 weather is warm and fine ; at which time it is 

 seen prowling near the margin in search of food, 

 and imprinting a dimple on the placid surface as 

 it snatches beneath any oily substance that may 

 chance to be swimming. It ventures to some 

 distance up rivers, but always returns with the 

 tide. Carew, the Cornish historian, had a pond 

 of salt-water, in which these fish were kept ; and 

 he says that, having been accustomed to feed 

 them at a certain place every evening, they 

 became so tame, that a knocking like that of 

 chopping would certainly cause them to assemble. 

 The intelligence this argues may also be inferred 

 from the skill and vigilance this fish displays in 

 avoiding danger, more especially in efiecting its 

 escape in circumstances of great peril. When 

 enclosed within a ground-seine, or sweep-net, as 

 soon as the danger is seen, and before the limits 

 of its range are straitened, and when even the 

 end of the net might be passed, it is its common 

 habit to prefer the shorter course, and throw it- 

 self over the headline, and so escape ; and when 

 one of the company passes, all immediately 

 follow. 



*' This disposition is so innate in the Grey 

 Mullet, that young ones of minute size may be 

 seen tumbling themselves head over tail in their 

 active exertions to pass the head-line. I have 

 even known a Mullet less than an inch in length, 

 to throw itself repeatedly over the side of a 

 cup in which the water was an inch below the 

 brim. 



*' Mullets frequently enter by the flood-gates into 



