HEARING OF FISHES. 145 



that fish, it would have been only "8 or 91bs .," 

 though catching him added lOlbs. to his weight ! ! 

 Therefore don't be illiberal to your fellow sports- 

 man. Now hide yourself from the water behind 

 these alders,* while I fish it, I imagine you need 

 hardly be told, that the less the angler himself, 

 even, is visible, the greater his chance : and what 

 is of almost equal importance, the less noise or 

 movement, especially heavy treading, we make 

 about the ground, the more are the odds against 

 us reduced. 



Herb.- -What, then, do you think that fishes 

 have ears? 



Theoph. My own observation assuredly leads 

 me to conclude that they have, to a certain ex- 

 tent, the sense of hearing, or something equiva- 

 lent to it ; although some anatomists class them 

 almost at " Zero," in the scale of animal perfection 

 in that respect. I was lately induced to ask the 

 opinion of my late esteemed friend, Sir Anthony 

 Carlisle, on this subject, and I will now give you his 

 observations in his own words, which, coming from 

 so eminent an anatomist, must be most valuable. 



Hearing of Fishes. 

 " The organs of hearing in fishes," said he, 



* These bushes have been much cut since this dialogue occurred, and 

 the fishing in this pool has been rendered easier, and the taking fish more 

 precarious in consequence, until time shall have restored them to their 

 pristine grandeur ! 



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