FISHES. 265 



verance adopted in the treatment of fishes, that an infinitely more 

 extensive command was acquired over them than we should have at 

 all supposed possihle from their nature. Some fishes used to recog- 

 nize their masters, and even had names by which they came at a call; 

 at least this is what has been handed down to us by authors, who 

 speak of the fishes as perfectly astonishing productions of industry 

 stimulated by luxury.* 



It is from observations made in fish-ponds, and from information 

 collected by fishermen during their expeditions, that we derive the 

 little which we know of the manners of these animals ; but it is very 

 probable that most of their secret habits utterly escape our knowledge 

 in those depths where they pass the greater portion of their lives. 

 Some live solitary, others in troops ; one set traverses immense spaces, 

 whilst others, always sedentary, never leave the bottom where they 

 were born. The nature of the bottom too, determines the habitation 

 of several of the species. There are fishes that live only in the rocky 

 parts of the sea coast; others will prefer the pure waters of the high 

 seas, others again will choose the stagnant and muddy waters, where 

 they can bury themselves in the mud or the sand, and of these there are 

 several that can live, even when the mud or sand by which they are 



* Martial., 1. IV, £p. 3o,v. 3: 



Sacris piscibits hce natantur undce 



Qui norunt dominum manumque lambunt, 



IUam qua nihil est in orbe majus. 



Quid quod nomen habcnt et ad magistri 



Vocem quisque sui venit citatus. 

 Et 1 . X, e>. 30 : 



Piscina rhombum pascit et lupos vcrnas. 

 Natat ad magisfrum delicafa murcena. 

 Nomenculator mugilem citat notum 

 Et udesse jussi prodeunt senes mulli. 

 Plinne rapporte le m£me fait, 1. X, c. 70 : 



" Spectator et in piscinis ccesaris, genera piscium ad nomen venire, quosdamque sin- 

 gulos." 



The passage in Latin quoted, is from the Roman poet Martial, and the epi- 

 gram instead of being the 30th, is really the 23rd. in the 4th book. The extract is 

 made from an epigram addressed by Martial to all anglers, not to go near a royal 

 pond at Baliae, belonging to the Emperor Domitian ; the word "hand" in the fol- 

 lowing translation refers to that of Domitian. 



Martial, 1. IV. ep. 30, v. 3. 



These waters are swimmed by sacred fishes, 

 Which know their ruler, and lick that 



hand than which in the world is greater, 

 Whatever be the name they have, each comes 



at the call of the master of the pond. 



And 1. X, ep. 30. 



The pond feeds the turbot, and wolves feed slaves, 



The delicate murcena swims to his master. 



The collector of names summons the known mullet, 



And the old ones come out when ordered. 

 Pliny states the same fact, 1. X, c. 70. 

 " It may be seen in Caesar's pond, each fish comes as his name is called." 



