FISHES AND FISHING. 125 



rush on forgetful of their former caution, and eager 

 to secure a portion of the prey, they swallow the 

 whole fish, and so become hooked themselves. 



The passions of jealousy and violent anger are 

 forcibly illustrated by the article relative to the 

 stickleback, which also shews the arrogant pride of 

 the conqueror, and the effect of grief of the van 

 quished fish at his humiliation. 



Oppian says the wruss is a polygamist, and so it 

 will seem is the stickleback. When trout find them 

 selves encircled by a net, they endeavour to leap 

 over it ; to frighten them from doing so, the fishermen 

 beat the water with poles. Oppian says, barbel will 

 do the same; book iii. verses 140 to 150. Salmon, 

 when hooked, will leap out of the water and endea- 



1 vour to break the line with their tails. Is this action 

 of the trout and salmon mere instinct? We want a 

 second Oppian to investigate the natural character 

 and habits of fish ; something may be learned by 

 placing them in vivariams, but very little in a state 



, of confinement. 



That fish form attachments of a most lasting de 

 scription, is proved by the following : " Fish that 

 are kept in jars, when they have been awhile toge 

 ther, contract so great an affection for each other, 

 that if they are separated, they become melancholy 



