30 A BOOK OF THE RUNNING BROOK: 



their own pond into that of their neighbours ; 

 and had devoured the greater part of them. 

 That these pike should have taken less than two 

 days to think out their marauding plan, and put 

 it in practice, is an additional proof that the 

 water-wolf is at least possessed of a prompt and 

 decided character. These Antwerp pike attained 

 their end (and that of the small fry), but another 

 pike on record came near having a different 

 fate. He adorned the Aquarium at the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens. One night the glass tank in 

 which he lived broke, and the water- wolf, not 

 appreciating being left thus high and dry, was 

 found next morning by the keeper at a distance 

 of twenty-four yards away, making for a piece 

 of water. Fortunately for him, he was not 

 allowed to reach it, for that pond contained the 

 otters, who would no doubt have greatly appre- 

 ciated a morning call from a fine young pike. 



The pike therefore is decidedly an exception 

 to the rule that fish have little or no intelligence. 

 Even the size of his brain is worthy of respect. 

 Its proportionate size as compared to the rest of 

 the body is as i to 1,300; in the shark, whose 



