S^2 FISHES OF FANCY. 



For not only will he die mad himself, but he will bequeath 

 insanity to his heirs for ever. Remember Duke Magnus. 



So much, then, for modern mermaids and their kith and 

 kin. Their cattle include both water-horses and water- 

 bulls. These are still seen on our coasts. The former is a 

 harmless and sociable beast that grazes with common 

 cattle, but if any attempt at capture is made, it at once 

 rushes over the cliffs into the sea. The water-bull is more 

 troublesome, does much mischief, and even kills its terres- 

 trial equivalents in combat. Before it disappears under 

 the water it always gives a defiant bellow. By this you 

 may always know a water-bull. 



The world therefore is still young ; and coming to religious 

 superstitions, we find the vestiges of an ancient fish-cultus 

 in vigorous existence among our own fishing population. 

 Some of the charms, incantations, and propitiatory offerings 

 are very significant, and when the interpreter arises — a 

 Tylor, or Lyell, or Ralston — large inductions of principle 

 will be drawn from them and the great code of superstitious 

 observances which influence both the social and industrial 

 lives of these people, be shown in its breadth and length to 

 be the survival of the zoolatry that still flourishes elsewhere 

 in pristine force. At present popular superstition is a 

 mass of unexplained items, but all the same they bring 

 us, so to speak, face to face with the megatherium. Thus, 

 ten years ago a herring-fisher was brought to a police 

 court for repeatedly ill-using his wife. He admitted the 

 conduct, but explained it was done, not from ill-will towards 

 his wife, but to attract the herrings ! 



Is it due to the grudge, dating back to Paradise, and the 

 day when, as the negro preacher said, " dat woman robbed 

 de orchard," that fishermen consider feminine influences so 

 sinister ? 



