FISHES AND FISHING. 93 



through a cut about a foot wide, which had a depth 

 of water at the lower end of about a foot, and shallow 

 ing to two inches at the distance of thirty feet from 

 its lower point of exit. As I approached this spot I 

 heard a noise up the cut I had been using-my land 

 ing net ; thinking the noise might be caused by a fish 

 which had probably gone up the little channel after 

 minnows, I placed my net at the end of the cut, 

 jumped heavily upon the ground, and instantly a 

 splendid trout rushed into my net, weighing three 

 pounds. Now this must have been through the tre 

 mulous motion I gave to the earth being communi 

 cated to the water, and thence to the organ of 

 sensation in the fish, and instinct apprised him that 

 he was in danger in his then locality, which he en 

 deavoured to avoid by flying for safety to the deep 

 water. This circumstance, and his explanation, ap 

 pears to me quite conclusive, that this fish must 

 possess not only some sense analogous to that of hear 

 ing, but also a degree of intelligence to seek the 

 outlet into deep water where he must know he 

 would be safe. He would not have quitted the posi 

 tion he had taken from any other cause than that 

 of hearing, because it was impossible he could see 

 me. 



Mr. John Hunter caused a gun to be fired near 

 some water wherein there were a number of fish 



