Rovunp Eyes perecr Morton, nor Form. 27 
erally taken by the angler while they are foraging for food, 
When salmon or trout rise to feed, they may always be taken 
with a well-made artificial fly, presented to them gently and 
artistically. 
The form of the eyes of almost all fishes proves them to be 
near-sighted. All animals with very convex eyes quickly de- 
tect the slightest motion, but lack the power to discriminate 
form. Hence a deer, with its full lustrous eye, will approach 
any still form to within a few feet of it, but at the first move- 
ment it bounds away like the wind. In addition to the eyes 
of fishes being convex, the density of the water—as a medium 
rather shortens than extends vision. 
“The vision must also be farther limited from the eye being 
through which they see 
covered with the common skin of the head to protect the eye- 
ball; and as they have no eyelids, of course the eyes never 
close; and, whether sleeping or waking, their vision must be 
indistinct.” White, of Selborne, states that eyes of fishes are 
immovable; but it is known that those of the silver and gold 
fishes in glass cases turn in their sockets as occasion requires, 
and that, while they take little notice ofa lighted candle, they 
will dart and appear much terrified if their glass house is 
touched. As fishes have no eyelids, it is difficult to discern 
the difference between their sleeping and waking hours. 
That they do not always sleep in the night is proven by the 
many instances when trout have been taken by rising to the 
artificial white miller in total darkness. M. de Blainville at- 
tributes the greatest distinctness of vision to migratory fishes, 
because he states their eyes are the largest; but, instead of 
that being so, the cod is about the only migratory fish which 
has larger eyes than the general run of river fishes, while 
those with eyes of moderate size, such as the genus Perca and 
those of the Salmo genus, give indications of better sight than 
most sea fishes. Anglers of great experience and acknowl- 
edged judgment select baits, whether live minnows, or such 
artificial lures as flies, squids, ete., which contrast strongly 
with the water and the color of the clouds. What angler 
