202 



4 



sant -, but I apprehend, that if a duck is employed, it 

 should be a full grown bird ^ for jacks are apt now and 

 then, to take down those of a lesser size, and sometimes 

 to make free with a good sized gosling. Indeed in- 

 stances have occurred of their attacking dogs, and chil- 

 dren while bathing. 



It is a very remarkable circumstance, that jacks inva- 

 riably swallow such fish as they catch head foremost. 

 This no doubt is occasioned by their sense of the difficulty 

 that must attach to beginning with the tail,- whereby 

 they wowld feel some inconvenience from the scales and 

 fins 5 which is not the case when the head goes first. 



But that little fish,, the lansticle, or prickle-tack, which 

 abounds in the fens, and in many other waters, swims 

 close to the jack without fear, conscious, no doubt, of 

 the security afforded by those sharp prickles on his back 

 and sides. 



Nor will a jack meddle with such perch as, from their 

 size, are able to present a formidable spike on their back 

 fins 3 but they do not stand on such ceremony with those 

 of a more tender age. When you bait with a perch, you, 

 must cut off the back fin, else, though a jack may seize, 

 he will in all probability let go so soon as he feels die 

 spike ; of which he entertains great apprehension. 



Those who put jacks and perch into the same water, 

 tender the idea that the latter will not be molested, are 

 right so far only as relates to the grown fish 5 but the 

 breed will cease 3 for ihe jacks will to a certainty destroy 

 all the young fry : nor will the perch pay more deference 

 to the very young jacks. 



The cunning and boldness of jacks, when they per- 

 ceive the intention to net them, are wonderful ! on suck 



occasions. 



