THE MIND OF FISHES. 55 



them in the abstract in his physical mind for future use. 

 But do we ourselves profit by such transmitted experience ? 

 Have we not each of us to learn life's lessons for ourselves? 

 And if this had been a case of transmitted instinct similar 

 to nest-building, would not the ultimate solution have 

 been the first and immediate method adopted by the fish? 

 The very idea of choice, pre-supposes the power of judg- 

 ment. That the fish immediately in question accidentally 

 attained the result is a quite unwarrantable supposition. 

 There was no indication of accident ; there was every 

 indication of deliberation, of abstract pre-figuration of the 

 end to be achieved. It may be said that it was a case of 

 reflex action. If by this is meant the reflex action of the 

 mere machine, there is no analogy ; the machine supplied 

 with motive power runs along the rails as ordained by its 

 construction, and if an obstruction blocks the way it does 

 not turn aside and avoid the threatened evil, but continues, 

 even though its own destruction be the consequence. If 

 by reflex action is meant some more occult influence of 

 external conditions on the internal organism of the 

 creature calling forth a corresponding action which is 

 always of necessity beneficial, and in the interest of the 

 actor, the fish would have just as good a right to say the 

 same of o?ir brightest inspirations and most sagacious 

 proceedings. It matters not whether the mind was in the 

 fish or round about it, the action was intelligential. 



" The mullet," says Ovid, " with its tail beats off the 

 pendent bait, and snatches it up when thus struck off." I 

 do not know whether any modern anglers have had experi- 

 ence of this sagaciously cautious act. It is commonly 



