THE PIKE FAMILY. 211 



making a noise and moaningj whereby lie is discovered to 

 the fishermen, who entice him into shallow places by 

 moving thither the spawn, as he will not even then 

 desert it."* 



A somewhat similar instinct is exhibited (though in a 

 less degree) by the unprepossessing-looking River Bullhead 

 and by the Lump-Sucker. The Stickleback also builds 

 a nest for its eggs, as already mentioned, and likewise the 

 Black Goby and the Hassar : the latter of fibrous plants ; 

 and the former of clay — ^burrowing galleries like rats' holes^ 

 in the soil, where it spends the greater part of the year. 

 The affection of the Hassar for its egg is shamefully mis- 

 used by man for its destruction : a small basket is held 

 before the door of the nest, and the structure slightly 

 shaken, when, furious, with extended fins, its enraged 

 guardian darts into the fatal basket f. 



Of all the methods of procuring food practised by fish, 

 perhaps the most singular is that of the Chsetodon of 

 India and its allied species. This fish literally shoots its 

 prey. When it perceives a fly or other insect settle upon 

 an overhanging bush or leaf, it approaches as cautiously as 

 possible, gradually bringing its head and nose close to 

 the surface of the stream, and remaining for an instant 

 motionless whilst taking aim, with its eyes fixed upon the 

 insect : suddenly it darts at it a drop of water from its 



* Agassiz, Proc. Amer. Acad, of Arts and Sciences, November 12, 

 1856. 

 t Hartwig, Tlie Sea and its Wonders. 



