INSTINCTS AND EMOTIONS IN FISH. 57 



attachment appeared to have increased ; they kept constant 

 guard at the vessel, and made themselves so familiar, that one of 

 them was actually captured by a gentleman in a boat alongside, 

 but by a strong effort it escaped from his grasp and regained the 

 water. After this the two fish separated ; but they were both 

 taken the same evening, and, when dressed next day, were found 

 to be excellent eating *. 



Contempt does not seem to be unknown in this class of aui- 

 mals, and which appears to be sometimes shown by a stroke 

 of the tail. Anglers frequently observe a fish swim up to their 

 bait, not only refuse it, but give it a lash with their tail, and de- 

 cline to have any thing more to do with it. This may, however, 

 be a symptom of curiosity, which is largely developed in the finny 

 tribes. 



The poet Cowper crossing a brook, " saw from the foot-bridge 

 something at the bottom of the water which had the appearance 

 of a flower." " Observing it attentively," he continues, " I found 

 that it consisted of a circular assemblage of Minnows : their 

 heads all met in a centre, and their tails diverging at equal dis- 

 tances, and being elevated above their heads, gave them the ap- 

 pearance of a flower half-blown. One was longer than the rest ; 

 and often as a straggler came in sight, he quitted his place to pursue 

 him ; and having driven him away, he returned to it again, no 

 other Minnow offering to take it in his absence. This I saw him 

 do several times. The object that attracted them all was a dead 

 Minnow which they seemed to be devouring" f. 



I would submit that the foregoing facts respecting fish, collected 

 from the writings of naturalists made in various parts of the globe, 

 or else the result of personal observation, must lead us to doubt the 

 very low estimate of the instincts and emotional sensations of the 

 piscine tribes which has been attributed to them by some authors. 

 At the same time we can hardly anticipate that these, the lowest 

 forms of vertebrate life, have their faculties so acutely developed 

 as they are in the higher races. Still it appears we are jus- 

 tified in claiming for some at least of this class of animals that 

 they have attachments, whether in the form of conjugal feelings, 

 paternal and maternal affections, or even of platonic friend- 

 ship. Some construct nests, which they defend, as well as 

 the young when hatched out. The males may act the part 



* Yarrell, 'Brit. Fish.' 2nd. edit. vol. i. p. 17L\ 

 t Mag. Nat, Hist. v. p. 290. 

 LINN. JOTJEN. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XV. 5 



