44 THE LOG OF THE SUN 



utmost gentleness raising them slowly to the sur- 

 face. Though stationary, they kept up a constant 

 sculling or waving motion with their fins, which is 

 exceedingly graceful, and expressive of their 

 humble happiness ; for unlike ours, the element in 

 which they live is a stream which must be con- 

 stantly resisted. From time to time they nibble 

 the weeds at the bottom or overhanging their 

 nests, or dart after a fly or worm. The dorsal 

 fin, besides answering the purpose of a keel, with 

 the anal, serves to keep the fish upright, for in 

 shallow water, where this is not covered, they fall 

 on their sides. As you stand thus stooping over 

 the sunfish in its nest, the edges of the dorsal and 

 caudal fins have a singular dusty golden reflec- 

 tion, and its eyes, which stand out from the head, 

 are transparent and colourless. Seen in its native 

 element, it is a very beautiful and compact fish, 

 perfect in all its parts, and looks like a brilliant 

 coin fresh from the mint. It is a perfect jewel of 

 the river, the green, red, coppery, and golden 

 reflections of its mottled sides being the concen- 

 tration of such rays as struggle through the float- 

 ing pads and flowers to the sandy bottom, and in 

 harmony with the sunlit brown and yellow 

 pebbles." 



When the cold days of winter come and the ice 

 begins to close over the pond, the sunfish become 

 sluggish and keep near the bottom, half -hibernat- 

 ing but not unwilling to snap at any bit of food 



