THE MIND OF FISHES. 5; 



singular mental control, and therein to present a useful 

 lesson to the human observer. Watch a pike chasing 

 minnows ! The apparent unconcern with which he slowly 

 follows these as though quite unconscious of their exis- 

 tence, until he has one fairly cornered, shows a methodical 

 mind triumphing over appetite. Should his one sharp 

 bite fail to snatch the prey, he betrays no chagrin, but 

 swims slowly round as though nothing had happened, 

 until another opportunity presents itself. There seems to 

 be something allied to the distinguishing qualities of a 

 superior mind in this patient perseverance and freedom 

 from excitability after disappointment. 



In a paper read before the Literary and Philosophical 

 Society of Liverpool in 1850, Dr. Warwick communicated 

 a remarkable anecdote of a pike. The author was walking 

 one day near a pond at Dunham, the seat of the Earl of 

 Stamford and Warrington, when he startled a large pike 

 which, in darting away, struck its head against a tenter- 

 hook in a post. The fish rushed about apparently in 

 extreme agony. At last it came to the surface in an 

 exhausted state and the Doctor succeeded in capturing it, 

 and observed that the head had sustained a slight fracture, 

 and that a portion of the brain was protruding. By 

 means of a tooth-pick he pushed back the exposed 

 portion of the brain, and re-placed the fish in the water. 

 The pike seemed much relieved, but presently it appeared 

 again to suffer pain and came voluntarily to the side, 

 when the Doctor again took it out of the water, and, 

 with the help of a keeper, contrived and fitted on a slight 

 bandage for the wound, again launching the fish after thus 



