WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 171 



M. Coste called our attention to the popular error with respect to 

 the sense of hearing, denied, as so many think, to fish. " But," 

 said he, " if they have no visible ears, the internal structure of 

 the head exhibits in most species a thin, yielding cartilage, which 

 serves the purpose of a tympanum ; and any vibration on the air 

 affects that membrane sensibly at once." To illustrate this 

 remark, he struck the edge of the tank sharply with his knuckles ; 

 and instantly a rush was heard as of many fish bustling towards 

 the spot. M. Coste then mounting a step higher and calling on 

 us to do the same, we saw some fine grey mullet with their heads 

 almost out of water, eagerly expecting the food which usually 

 followed that summons. It reminded me of the "lake dinner- 

 bell " at Charlottenburg, near Berlin ; the sound of which brings 

 a shoal of carp and tench to it on the edge of the water, when- 

 ever the bell is rung. The Chinese call their fish together, at 

 feeding time, with a sharp whistle. 



So ravenous were the mullet, and so little timid, that, before 

 M. Coste could convey to them the food prepared for their use, 

 they were literally jostling each other and endeavouring to snatch 

 it from his grasp, ere his hand touched the water : moreover, they 

 permitted him to handle and stroke them, not only without resist- 

 ance on their part, but apparently with a confidence that his atten- 

 tions were kindly meant, and therefore most welcome. St. Anthony 

 himself, the patron saint of fishes, could never have had a tamer 

 flock than this small shoal of mullet : nor were they the only 

 subjects exhibiting the results of kind treatment in this establish- 

 ment. The sticklebacks, a naturally bold, pugnacious class, were 

 equally civilised ; taking the food from his hand like a pack of pet 

 spaniels ; a little eager and jealous of one another, perhaps, but 

 still well-behaved on the whole, and betraying no fear whatever of 

 the hand that fed them. 



On one point only, however, they were not to be trifled with : 

 each male fish selected a particular corner for his abiding place,. 



