108 VERTEBRATA. PISCES. 



distance from land, but delights in shallow water 

 when the weather is warm and fine ; at which time 

 it is seen prowling near the margin in search of 

 food, and imprinting a dimple on the placid surface 

 as it snatches beneath any oily substance that may 

 chance to be swimming. It ventures to some dis- 

 tance up rivers, but always returns with the tide. 

 Carew, the Cornish historian, had a pond of salt 

 water, in which these fish were kept : and he says 

 that, having been accustomed to feed them at a 

 certain place every evening, they became so tame 

 that a knocking like that of chopping would* cer- 

 tainly cause them to assemble. The intelligence 

 this argues may also be inferred from the skill and 

 vigilance this fish displays in avoiding danger, more 

 especially in effecting its escape in circumstances of 

 great peril. "When enclosed within a ground-sean 

 or sweep-net, as soon as the danger is seen, and 

 before the limits of its range are straightened, and 

 when even the end of the net might be passed, it 

 is its common habit to prefer the shorter course, 

 and throw itself over the headline and so escape, 

 and when one of the company passes all immedi- 

 ately follow. 



" This disposition is so innate in the Grey Mul- 

 let, that young ones of minute size may be seen 

 tumbling themselves head over tail in their active 

 exertions to pass the head-line. I have even known 

 a Mullet, less than an inch in length, to throw 

 itself repeatedly over the side of a cup in which the 

 water was an inch below the brim. 



