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the time of spawning, visit the surface occasionally, but 

 particularly in hot weather ; thus we see shoals of roac/i 

 and dace, especially the latter, at such times ; perch then 

 frequent the shallows ; minnows, gudgeons, Arc. are on 

 the scours ; salmort, t routs, &c run up the rivers to- 

 wards the more rapid waters, laying at the skirts of ed- 

 dies, or under banks where the sun has full power. 



Thus also we find, that about February and March, 

 tite jacks, which for some months were buried in the 

 greatest deeps, appear on the surface, in deep, secluded 

 ditches, &c. where they spawn, and gradually come out 

 more into the open waters ; to which, however, their 

 young fry do not so readily venture -, nature giving them 

 to understand, no doubt, that their own parents are not 

 to be trusted -, for a jack will attack his own kind when 

 nothing else falls in his way ; nay, he will contrive to 

 pouch one nearly a third of his own size ! I have heard, 

 indeed, such extraordinary stories, as would perhaps war- 

 rant my saying more on this topic 5 but I rather follow 

 my general rule, of being strictly within bounds on all 

 occasions. 



Jt may be proper to remark, that the various kinds of 

 water fowl frequenting us during the winter season, are 

 dire enemies to all kinds of fishes 5 which we may rea- 

 sonably conclude, do not venture much near the surface, 

 while so many of their enemies are to be seen there. 

 Storks, cranes, herons, bitterns, geese, ducks, teal, and 

 widgeons, all prey on fish j not only on the smaller kinds, 

 but occasionally devouring many of a good size. 



Providence seems to have taken ample care of these 

 visitors j for we find them direct their course to our large 

 fens, where they meet with abundance of subsistence. 



In 



