WATER-WITCHES. 39 



posing that a fish of prey will sooner seize upon 

 a brother in distress, a wounded fish, than upon 

 any other; because it is most easily captured. 

 This presupposes something of a human, not 

 humane, feeling ; and was exemplified in per- 

 fection when I was at school — that blessed 

 time of birch before breakfast, drubbings before 

 dinner, and tears before tea. A poor, friendless 

 boy was the butt of the school ; and, whenever 

 he was knocked down, uprose the cry of " Oh ! 

 kick him ! Avhat fun ! he's no friends ! " And 

 this seems to be the case among other animals. 

 In domestic poultry, the injured hen is pecked 

 at on all sides ; the wounded stag is driven from 

 the herd, to die in solitude. The unfortunate 

 of the feathered, furred, and every other race, 

 are either scorned or hunted, often both. 



The scaly tribe affords no exception. I have 

 several times seen a Minnow or small Dace, 

 that was either marked by some accident, or 

 had — no doubt from injury of one kind or other 

 — an odd, waddling sort of motion in swimming, 

 seized upon by a Trout, in the midst of its 

 fellows, who were in full health, vigour, and 



C 4 



