258 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



SENSES OF FISHES. 



He also tells us about the senses of fishes, and first 

 of their hearing : " Among the marine animals, it is 

 not probable that Oysters enjoy the sense of hearing, 

 but it is said that immediately a noise is made, the 

 Solen (razor-sheatli) will sink to the bottom ; it is for 

 this reason, too, that silence is observed by persons 

 while fishing at sea. Fishes have neither organs of hear- 

 ing, nor yet the exterior orifice. And yet it is quite cer- 

 tain that they do hear, for it is a well-known fact, that 

 in some fish-ponds they are in the habit of being as- 

 sembled to be fed by the clapping of the hands. In the 

 fish-ponds, too, that belong to the Emperor, the fish are 

 in the habit of coming, each kind, as it bears its name. So, 

 too, it is said the Mullet, the Wolf-fish, the Salpa, and the 

 Chromis, have a very exquisite sense of hearing, and that 

 it is for this reason that they frequent shallow water. 



" It is quite manifest that fishes have the sense of 

 smell also; for they are not all to be taken with the 

 same bait, and are seen to smell at it before they seize 

 it. Some, too, that are concealed in the bottom of holes 

 are driven out by the fishermen, by the aid of the smell 

 of salted fish ; with this he rubs the entrance of their 

 retreat in the rock, immediately upon which they take 

 to flight from the spot, just as though they had recog- 

 nized the dead carcases of those of their kind. Then, 

 again, they will rise to the surface at the smell of certain 

 odours, such, for instance, as roasted sepia and polypus ; 

 and hence it is that these baits are placed in the osier- 

 kipes used for taking fish. They immediately take to 

 flight upon smelling the bilge-water in a ship's hold, 

 and more especially upon scenting the blood of fish. 



