GREEDINESS OF PERCH 153 



a whole string of perch following the bait one after 

 another like so many shadows ; and when they are 

 on the feed in this way, it would not be an im- 

 possible feat to take every fish in the shoal. In 

 fact, I believe that I have literally done so on 

 several occasions ; and I remember once a visit to 

 the Avon, above Christchurch, where the perch lie 

 mostly in holes easily fishable, after which visit I 

 should not have much cared to fish the same water 

 for a year or two ! " 



My own observations have convinced me that a 

 perch appears sometimes to be fearless. I have, 

 when pike-fishing in a lake or river, seen a large 

 perch sail with prickly fin erect close up to the 

 boat or bank, seize the pike bait, and shake it as 

 a terrier does a rat, eventually getting the head 

 and hook into his mouth, bristling all the while 

 like a porcupine, and his colours showing with 

 increased brilliancy ; then, retiring with his prey, 

 only to be hooked and caught himself. Perch will 

 at times gorge themselves to repletion, and yet keep 

 feeding on minnows, with the tails of some pro- 

 truding from their throats. In the punt-well or 

 basket they usually eject some from their dis- 

 tended stomachs, in some cases digestion of the 

 minnows not even begun, so recently were they 

 swallowed. 



The late Mr. Frank Buckland considered perch 

 to have more intelligence than most other fish ; also 

 that the best way to test a fish's intelligence (like 

 that of other animals) was by appealing to its 

 appetite. " At the aquarium at the Zoological 

 Gardens, Tennant, the keeper, was accustomed to 

 frequently feed the perch with live minnows. After 

 a while the perch ascertained by a process very like 



