Notes on Animal Life. 81 



Kept as pets for a time, individuals have become so fond of per- 

 sons about them as to manifest great uneasiness upon being re- 

 stored to their native element, and have been known to work 

 themselves over a considerable surface of land in order to re- 

 join their captors. A vessel on which was a captured young seal 

 has been known to be followed a great distance by the frantic 

 mother, suffering from the loss of her offspring. Surely, animals 

 with affection and sensibility quite equalling man's, and having 

 the great intelligence which they are known to possess, merit 

 and should receive all the protection which has been accorded 

 to those of their number who have trusted themselves to the 

 hospitality of the neighborhood. 



FISHES. 



The fishes of Massachusetts Bay have been admirably described 

 and beautifully illustrated by Dr. D. Humphreys Storer in his " His- 

 torv of the Fishes of Massachusetts." It is reasonable to suppose 

 that individuals of very many of the species sometimes enter the 

 harbor. Indeed one of the citizens, Mr. Charles B. Barnes, who 

 has fished in its waters as much perhaps as any one living, and 

 the accuracy of whose observations can be relied upon, has recog- 

 nized a very large number of fish that have been caught by him 

 and others within the limits of Hingham through the descriptions 

 given in that work. 



A few w r ords concerning the Smelt, that the future inhabitants 

 of the town may know how greatly their predecessors were blessed 

 by the abundance of this delicious lish. The number caught by 

 hook and line in the harbor is very large, supplying the tables of 

 most of the inhabitants in the fall months, and furnishing great 

 quantities for the Boston market. During the right season numer- 

 ous boats are always to be seen with parties engaged in fishing, 

 while on the wharf margins, rows of men and boys may be ob- 

 served intent upon drawing in the coveted prey. No idea can be 

 given of the number taken during a season. 



MOLLUSKS. 



The Mollusks of the harbor are few in species, but fortunately 

 for the town, the most highly prized member of them all, the 

 Common Clam (My a arenaria, L. ), is exceedingly abundant. There 

 can be no doubt, judging by the clam-shell heaps near the shores, 

 that this species contributed largely towards the sustenance of the 

 Indian when he alone occupied the territory ; and if in the present 

 period it is not so absolutely necessary to sustain the life of the 

 white man, it yet affords a luxurious repast for his table, and fur- 

 nishes the material for hundreds of clam-bakes for the summer 

 parties that daily visit the watering places. The number taken along 



vol. I. — 6 



