28 THE SMALL-MOUTHED BASS 



in length, emerged, and, crawling slowly to the shore, seized 

 a large piece of skin and began to drag it back to his hole ; 

 with his slimy green shell, his long snaky-looking feelers 

 and claws, and his bright protruding eyes, he was a most 

 diabolical object, and produced in me a mixed feeling of 

 fascination and disgust. A slight motion of my hand above 

 the water, and immediately, like a flash, all were gone, 

 each to its hiding-place, from which, no doubt, observations 

 were taken until they were confident that no danger existed. 



A few minutes of quietness, and then the same perform- 

 ance was repeated ; but, this time, another crayfish of smaller 

 dimensions appeared on the scene, and a struggle began 

 between the two amphibians for a large piece of skin. They 

 finally became bolder, and, reaching dry land, fought for 

 the food like two dogs, until the smaller crayfish became 

 tired and scrambled off in search of other pieces which were 

 being appropriated by the larger perch. 



In a short time, probably not more than ten minutes, 

 the space about me was literally alive with all kinds of life, 

 minnows, perch, garpike, small catfish, crayfish, sunfish, 

 rock bass, all engaged in eating or fighting; and where 

 formerly everything was as still as death, and where a 

 casual observer would have said that no life existed, a veri- 

 table menagerie was present, all intent in the struggle for 

 existence. 



The climax was reached when a large pike, which I had 

 not observed, but which must evidently have been hiding 

 under some lily pads a few feet away, rushed into the group 

 of combatants, and seizing one of the largest perch, swam 

 away. 



The disturbance created by this voracious monster 

 evidently frightened the community thoroughly, for, al- 

 though I waited some time for a renewal of these interest- 

 ing scenes, not a single creature re-appeared. 



