AND OF STILL WATERS. 103 



worms and aquatic plants, minnows have also 

 a habit of cannibalism, and devour the dead 

 bodies of their own kind. In a letter to his 

 friend, the Rev. Mr. Hurdis, dated from Weston, 

 in February, 1793, Cowper gives an interesting 

 account of this intelligent habit of the minnows 

 of disposing of their dead relations : 



11 Mrs. Unwin and I crossing a brook saw, from the 

 footbridge, somewhat at the bottom of the water which 

 had the appearance of a flower. Observing it attentively, 

 we found that it consisted of a circular assemblage of 

 minnows ; their heads all met in the centre, and their 

 tails diverging at equal distances, and being elevated 

 above their heads, gave them the appearance of a flower 

 half blown. One was longer than the rest ; and as often 

 as a straggler came in sight, he quitted his place to pursue 

 him, and, having driven him away, he returned to it again, 

 no other minnow offering to take it in his absence. This 

 we saw him do several times. The object that had at- 

 tracted them all was a dead minnow, which they seemed 

 to be devouring." 



A minnow, though a very shy and timid fish, 

 as he well may be when, like Ishmael, he finds 

 every one's hand (or jaws) against him, will 

 readily take a bait. Mr. Manley recommends 

 that he should be fished for in about two or three 

 feet of water, with " a scrap of worm or gentle 



