VI 



MARINE MAMMALS, AND 

 PREDATORY FISHES 



1VT EARLY all fishes are predatory, in the sense 

 of attacking, and consuming everything less 

 powerful than themselves. It would be difficult to 

 tell how many species follow on the trail of the 

 herring. The larger members of the cod family 

 turn from the hungry labours of the spawning bed, 

 to get into condition again on herring diet. The 

 cod itself has been fitly named the sea-wolf. 



More eager still are the coal-fish, and the green- 

 cod, known respectively in Scotland as the saithe 

 and the lythe. These are the veritable Dromios 

 of the sea, constantly confounded, even by the 

 observant. If we may judge from the con- 

 fusion in the minds of men, the fish themselves 

 must sometimes be surprised when they meet: 

 " Methinks you are my glass, and not my brother." 



95 



