122 IN SPRING. 



that they will leap above the water is remarkable, 

 the spring being preceded by a withdrawal from 

 the object and a slight sigmoid curvature of the 

 body, involving, I suppose, the same principle as 

 that of a short run before jumping. Mud min- 

 nows two inches in length, which I kept in an 

 aquarium, were proved capable of leaping above 

 the water a distance equal to twice their length ; 

 but others, much larger, could not or would not 

 leap so far. So far as my own observations ex- 

 tend, exhibitions of this leaping from the water 

 to seize insects are not often witnessed, and it 

 was my aquarium studies that led me to watch 

 these fishes closely when in the muddy ponds 

 and ditches. Once, when so engaged, I saw the 

 following: One of these minnows, little more 

 than an inch in length, sighted an insect at the 

 same moment that it was seen by a huge female 

 minnow more than thrice the other's length. 

 The little fellow had all the advantage, how- 

 ever, as it was much nearer the fly, and at 

 the proper instant away it leaped, caught the 

 insect, and sank back but not to the water. 

 That hungry ogress was willing to be fed by 

 proxy, as it were, and, permitting the little min- 

 now to swallow the fly, she promptly swallowed 

 both. 



Tiring of the fish at last, and having long 

 since wearied of reopening the ditch, I turned 



