222 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



manner, or are brought into some ponds some such other 

 ways as is past man's finding out, of which we have daily 

 witnesses." 



The absurdity of Gesner's theory is sufficiently obvious : 

 it probably arose from the fact that Pike are fond of lying 

 in beds of pickerel-weed, and not unfrequently deposit 

 their spawn amongst it. 



The notion, which is on a par with the popular belief in 

 chopped horsehair thrown into ponds becoming Eels, and 

 other similar superstitions, is alluded to in the ' Piscatory 

 Eclogues ' : 



" Say, canst thou tell how worms of moisture breed, 

 Or Pike are gender'd of the Pickrel-weed ? 

 How Carp without the parent seed renew, 

 Or slimy Eels are form'd of genial dew ? " 



The most obvious explanation of the ' spontaneous breed- 

 ing' of Pike would appear to be, that the impregnated 

 spawn is conveyed from one place to another by aquatic 

 birds, frogs, and other amphibia, either sticking to their 

 bodies, or swallowed, but undigested ; but this would not 

 explain the discovery of full-grown fish under the circum- 

 stances before alluded to. 



The sudden appearance of Pike at certain times is not 

 less remarkable than their unaccountable ^appearance 

 at others. There is no doubt that in seasons of great 

 heat or unusual drought, when ponds or reservoirs have 

 become rapidly dried up, the Pike that were in them 

 have vanished in a very extraordinary manner, and that 



