12 THE ANGLEK-XATURALIST. 



frequent situation) their position, however, being always 

 adjusted to suit the habits of the particular fish. The 

 external surface of the eye itself is nearly flat, but the lens 

 is spherical a structure which, in a dense medium, affords 

 the greatest power of vision at short or moderate distances, 

 rather than a very long sight. When water is clear and 

 undisturbed, however, the sight of fishes is very acute ; and 

 for this reason it is that a ruffled water is always prefer- 

 able to a smooth one for purposes of fishing. I believe 

 myself that the sight of fish in clear water is longer than 

 is generally supposed. Standing by the side of a Scotch 

 loch in bright calm weather, I have frequently remarked a 

 Pike basking at from fifteen to twenty-five yards from the 

 shore, and could plainly perceive that the observation was 

 mutual. The fish, after fixedly regarding me for a few 

 moments, has generally backed slowly away into the deep 

 water, disappearing so motionlessly if I may use the ex- 

 pression that the eye was hardly conscious of its retreat 

 until it became aware that it had vanished. Moreover, it 

 is well known that a basking Chub will sink upon the 

 flitting of a swallow across the river ; that in ponds where 

 Carp are habitually fed by visitors, the former will follow 

 the latter about for the expected largesse ; and that in- 

 stances have been authenticated in several cases under 

 my own observation, elsewhere detailed in which fish 

 evidently recognized their keepers, as well by sight as by 

 sound : thus clearly leading to the inference that, when 

 we can see the fish, the fish can see us. 



