370 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



particular are prone to find these aged " sunnies," and 

 exercise all their ingenuity to capture them. Here comes 

 in the evidence of affection on the part of these fishes. 

 If one of them is hooked, the mate is at once aware of 

 the fact, and is prompt to seize the same fatal hook, as 

 though unwilling to be left alone and anxious to follow 

 its companion even to death. Why, it may be asked, is 

 it not a simple case of "good luck" on the part of the 

 angler ? Two fishes were in the same " hole," and both 

 were caught the same bait that deceived the one deceiv- 

 ing the other. This is a rational explanation of such an 

 occurrence ; but, in my own angling experience, I have 

 found that it is only by great care and much ingenuity 

 that these large fish can be induced to bite ; then, if one 

 is hooked, the other follows it to the surface of the water, 

 and is evidently excited and distressed, and, unlike its un- 

 fortunate mate, bites savagely at the hook as soon as it 

 is replaced in the water. It seizes the hook either in re- 

 venge, or because it realizes that by so doing it can fol- 

 low its companion. I consider the facts of the move- 

 ments of the two fishes the wariness of the one first 

 captured, the recklessness of the other and deduce from 

 it that the psychology of fishes is no myth, but that in 

 such an instance as here given there is evidence of dis- 

 trust, and of anger, revenge, recklessness, and deep affec- 

 tion. These traits one shown by one of the fishes, and 

 the others by its mate lead me to conclude that the life 

 of a fish is by no means a mere mechanical, joyless exist- 

 ence. In fact, one need but look straight into the eye 

 of a large pike, to be satisfied that that fish is every whit 

 as wicked in his thoughts as he is in appearance, for pike 

 do think, as every one who has angled for them will, I 

 think, admit. 



To see our common sunfish at their best, it is neces- 



