THE MIND OF FISHES. 49 



the evidences of mind in the fish according to our narrow- 

 conceptions of the formulae, and the restricted area of our 

 experience. In the average human mind the notion of 

 water has in it something opposed to the idea of quick- 

 ness of intellect. It is undeniable that outside this Asso- 

 ciation, the water-drinker is regarded as one whose mental 

 development takes place under unfavourable conditions, 

 and whose ideas partake rather of the nature of instinct 

 than of that fresh originality, that expansiveness, which 

 characterise the mental calibre supposed to be associated 

 with a right appreciation of the juice of the grape. The 

 notion of dilution is opposed to that of force ; the idea of 

 clamminess to that of vitality ; and the feeling of external 

 dampness to that freedom from irritability, and good- 

 natured temperament which are most congenial to the 

 healthy exercise of the mind. Many persons who came 

 to see the fish at the Aquarium expressed their disappoint- 

 ment at the apparent insipidity of the exhibition, by 

 likening the excursion to a visit to see scales and cold 

 water. Such reports were very unjust to the fish. For 

 my part I learned to look upon the odd thousands who 

 inhabited the tanks with something of a brother's eye. 

 Possibly the feeling that the only difference between me 

 and the others, was the fact that I usually had the biggest 

 tank to myself, quickened my appreciation. There is 

 nothing like similar experiences for promoting sympathy 

 and mutual understanding. The season was one of the 

 most rainy for many years past ; the tanks round about 

 me were always leaking, and the floor and the atmosphere 

 had a cellar-like humidity. Moreover, there was no 



