MILL CREEK. 217 



the body is as 1 to 1300 ; in the shark, whose intelli- 

 gence has so often been vaunted, it is only as 1 to 2500 ; 

 while in the tunny it is but as 1 to 3700. The only 

 thing that dulls the pike's intelligence is his greed ; but 

 even this may perhaps only be caused by an overween- 

 ing confidence in his own gastric juices. Like many 

 other voracious animals, to swallow seems to be his only 

 joy ; palate he has little or none." 



Pushing the boat a little nearer to the channel, I came 

 to a long narrow strip of dark green growth that com- 

 pletely covered the bottom of the creek where it grew, 

 but did not reach to the surface. It was the eel-grass. 

 It was slimy to the touch, but not coated with jelly, like 

 the water-shield. Some of the leaves were gritty from 

 the thick studding of minute shells. 



The water was sufficiently clear to enable me to see 

 the grass plainly, so I peered for some time into the 

 dense growth, which moved gracefully with a life-like, 

 wavy motion, as the current bore its free ends up the 

 stream. Like all dense, aquatic vegetation, it harbors 

 many fishes, and it is surprising how great a variety will 

 often issue from their hiding-places when once they 

 have become accustomed to the presence of the boat 

 above them. For a while to-day I saw nothing but 

 waving grass; then an eel peered forth and quickly 

 withdrew to the waving wilderness ; then a number of 

 sticklebacks rushed out, and as quickly returned ; then 

 in turn came a water-snake, a turtle, a perfect swarm of 

 water-bugs of large size, and finally, as a fitting close 

 of the day's exhibit, a number of beautiful silvery bill- 

 fish. 

 10 



