213 WASTE-LAND WAXDERIXGS. 



shot. While thus engaged a school of small minnows 

 came trooping along and disturbed the scene. They 

 darted after the shot that I dropped among them and 

 scattered the darters, so that I could not regather them. 

 After tarrying a few moments the minnows passed un- 

 der the boat, and when out of sight I threw a few grains 

 of shot into the water with some violence. Immediate- 

 ly they returned as one body, and searched for the 

 supposed food which they heard but could not have 

 seen. 



I have often been puzzled by similar concerted action 

 on the part of roach, and how it is accomj)lished is not 

 readily explained. It has been said to be due to exj^e- 

 rience and memory; but how? Can experience have 

 anything to do with it ? It begins with their earliest 

 infancy, and unquestionably some means must exist of 

 conveying the fact that a companion fish, behind his 

 fellows and therefore unseen, has changed his course. 

 What this method of conveying intelligence is remains 

 to be determined. Experience, at least, can be ruled 

 out of court. May it be that the hindmost of a school 

 of fishes, suddenly reversing its position, gives an im- 

 pression to the water that is promptly felt by those im- 

 mediately in advance? Probably if but two or three 

 fishes were swimming single file, and the hindmost one 

 turned about, the others might not notice it at once ; but 

 when there is a large school of these gregarious fishes, 

 then they swim many abreast, and an object falling be- 

 hind the school would be seen by several, who turning 

 together would give a peculiar motion to the water that 

 "would be felt by the preceding individuals. If to re- 



