Wild Life in Water 127 



learned and scientific solutions of the com- 

 parative psychologist, and possibly, too, we 

 wander further from the truth. All I posi- 

 tively know is, that when danger really exists 

 the minnows are aware of it ; when it is ab- 

 sent they throw off the burden of this care, 

 and life for a few hours is a matter of pure 

 enjoyment. 



Brief mention should be made of the pro- 

 teftive charafter of the coloring of certain 

 fishes. If such are fortunate enough to be 

 proteftively colored, there is little to be said ; 

 but are they conscious of this ? Does a fish 

 that is green or mottled green and gray keep 

 closely to the weeds, knowing that it is safer 

 there than when in open water or where the 

 bottom is covered with white sand and peb- 

 bles ? This may be a rather startling question, 

 but there is warrant for the asking. Float 

 half a day over the shallows of any broad 

 pond or stream, study with care and without 

 preconception the fishes where they live, and 

 you will ask yourself not only this question, 

 but many a stranger one. If fish are fools, 

 how is it that the angler has so generally to 

 tax his ingenuity to outwit them ? How closely 

 Nature must be copied to deceive a trout ! 



