318 DISHONEST APPROPRIATION. 



In a few minutes afterwards, with more pom- 

 pousness than is to be found in a pouter-pigeon, the 

 great professor came forward. A buzz of approbation 

 from the small fry around greeted him. He waited 

 for a cessation of the noise, but evidently would have 

 liked an encore. His supporters, although used to 

 the ' claque,' had not managed the matter properly, 

 so there was none. 



There being, therefore, no cause for delay, for the 

 secretary had counted all the minor fins between the 

 dorsal and caudal ones, and reported that they 

 agreed with Jonathan Couch's work in every respect, 

 the great authority on fish, like a second Bacchus, 

 inflated his lungs with an extra addition of breath, 

 and thus spoke, 



' I have observed among the gentlemen here pre- 

 sent what I might attribute either to reticence or 

 ignorance. I would be pleased to consider it the 

 former, in reference to the name of the fish now 

 before us. To prevent any further doubt upon the 

 subject, if such exists, permit me to tell you that it 

 is a ' 



The crowd dispersed, and soon after might be 

 seen an article in a great periodical, not only giving 

 the name of the previously unknown fish to the 

 public, but pitching into contemporary newspapers 

 for having miscalled it. There is an immense deal 

 of such humbug in this world; appropriation of the 

 emanation of others' brains is worse, it is dishonest ; 

 but then the appropriators have a reputation to keep 



