100 SPRING-TIDE. 



will hear them in the darkness, chasing and 

 devouring the minnows on the shallows. 



J. Is it not strange that creatures which 

 subsist upon their own species should prey 

 so constantly on minute insects ? It is to 

 me inexplicable. 



S. The fondness of the trout, and in- 

 deed of several other kinds of fish, for 

 this diversion, may be compared to that of 

 many birds and beasts, which relish nothing 

 so much as the prey they have captured 

 by their own agility or cunning. The supe- 

 rior animal, man, in his primitive state, is 

 thus characterized, and in his civilized con- 

 dition differs but little from the savage in 

 this respect. A Scotch friend of mine one 

 day asked his keeper if he could tell 

 him why so large a fish as the salmon de- 

 lighted in capturing flies. " God Almighty 

 kens, sir," replied the man, " except its 

 curiosity." 



The mention of this anecdote reminds me 



