FISHES AND FISHING. 93 



through a cut about a foot wide, which had a depth 

 of water at the lower end of about a foot, and shallow- 

 ing to two inches at the distance of thirty feet from 

 its lower point of exit. As I approached this spot I 

 heard a noise up the cut — I had been using-my land- 

 ing net ; thinking the noise might be caused by a fish 

 which had probably gone up the little channel after 

 minnows, .1 placed my net at the end of the cut, 

 jumped heavily upon the ground, and instantly a 

 splendid trout rushed into my net, weighing three 

 pounds. Now this must have been through the tre- 

 mulous motion I gave to the earth being communi- 

 cated to the water, and thence to the organ of 

 sensation in the fish, and instinct apprised him that 

 he was in danger in his then locality, which he en- 

 deavoured to avoid by flying for safety to the deep 

 water. This circumstance, and his explanation, ap- 

 pears to me quite conclusive, that this fish must 

 possess not only some sense analogous to that of hear- 

 ing, but also a degree of intelligence to seek the 

 outlet into deep water where he must know he 

 would be safe. He would not have quitted the posi- 

 tion he had taken from any o'.her cause than that 

 of hearing, because it was impossible he could see 

 me. 



Mr. John Hunter caused a gun to be fired near 

 some water wherein there were a number of fish 



