II ON ANIMAL LIFE 103 
Fish the Carp is said to reach 150 years; and 
a Pike, 19 feet long, and weighing 350 Ibs., 
is said to have been taken in Suabia in 1497 
carrying a ring, on which was inscribed, “ I 
am the fish which was first of all put ito the 
lake by the hands of the Governor of the Uni- 
verse, Frederick the Second, the 5th Oct. 
1230.” This would imply an age of over 267 
years. Many Reptiles are no doubt very long- 
lived. A Tortoise is said to have reached 500 
years. As regards the lower animals, the 
greatest age on record is that of Sir J. 
Dalzell’s Sea Anemone, which lived for over 
50 years. Insects are generally short-lived ; 
the Queen Bee, however, is said by Aristotle, 
whose statement has not been confirmed by 
recent writers, to live 7 years. I myself 
had a Queen Ant which attained the age of 
15 years. 
The May Fly (Ephemera) is celebrated as 
living only for a day, and has given its name 
to all things short-lived. The statement 
usually made is, indeed, very misleading, for 
in its larval condition the Ephemera lives for 
weeks. Many writers have expressed surprise 
