THE SAFETY INSTINCT OF FISH. 2$ 



It is astonishing to see how quickly young fish 

 learn to distinguish their enemies. They show a 

 great deal of shrewdness and cunning in escaping 

 from them. In fact, it seems to be born in them, 

 and it is undoubtedly that instinct of self-preserva- 

 tion with which every organism that possesses 

 animal life seems to be endowed. 



The home of nearly all kinds of young fish is near 

 the shore, and if by chance, in search of food or 

 otherwise, they should happen to get too far out, 

 and an unforeseen enemy should suddenly make his 

 appearance, they set their little propellers in rapid 

 motion to reach the shallow water where the larger 

 fish cannot go; and when a little fellow reaches the 

 goal, if he is not too frightened, I have no doubt that 

 he chuckles to himself to think how he has fooled 

 his pursuer, or as I have seen them when they were 

 so far out that they could not gain the shore, before 

 they were overtaken and devoured, they will with a 

 quick turn of the body suddenly dive into the mud 

 on the bottom. On one occasion which came under 

 my observation, a chub was making for a little trout, 

 doubtless smacking his lips in anticipation of the 

 tempting morsel, when suddenly the trout disap- 

 peared, leaving his chubship in mute astonishment 

 as to what had become of his prey. 



But all small fry are not so fortunate, and the 

 pursuer often displays as much skill as the pursued. 

 Few people know much about the great reasoning 

 powers of fish, insects and dumb animals, and it is 

 doubtful whether we shall ever understand the 

 nature and extent of these senses. 



