i6o ^^BRITISH ANGLER.P.II. 



by the Death of fo many other Filli, eventhofe 

 of their own Species. This, as I before ob- 

 ferved, has made fome Writers call him the 

 Tyrant of the Rivers, or the freJfh Water 

 Shark or Wolf, on Account of his bold, vo- 

 racious Difpofition ; his Appetite being fo 

 keen, that it is affirmed, a Man going to a 

 Pond, where a Pike had already devoured all 

 the other Filh, to water his Mule, had his 

 Bead bit by the Lips •, to which the Pike hung 

 fo fail, that the Creature drew him out of the 

 Water, and by that new Way of Angling, the 

 Owner of the Mule became Mafter of thtPike, 

 Inflances are even produced, of their having 

 feized, in prefling Neceffity, on the Feet and 

 Legs of Men or Women, who have gone in- 

 to the Waters. 



But without carrying our Credulity too far, 

 we have been affured by thofe who have kept 

 tame Otters, that they have known a Pike in 

 extreme Hunger fight with an Otter, for a Carp 

 which the Otter had caught, and was then bring- 

 ing out of the Water. And it is too well 

 known to be doubted, that a Pike will devour 

 a Filli of his own Kind, that fball be bigger 

 than his Belly or Throat will receive •, fwal- 

 lowing firft a Part of him, and letting the o- 

 ther Part remain in his Mouth till the Iwallow- 

 ed Part be digefted, and then fwallowing that 

 other Part which was in his Mouth, till he has 

 gorged the Whole. Like as the Ox, and 

 fome other cloven-footed Beads, take not their 

 Meat out of their Mouth immediately into 



their 



