32 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
position from the Tweed, at Kelso, one half- 
swallowed by the other. Both fish were alive; 
they were placed in water, when the larger made 
two or three attempts to swallow its neighbour. 
These fish were forwarded to Buckland; and Dr. 
Burton, who sent them, remarked that the lad 
who captured them wondered much to see “a 
muckle fish wi’ twa tails.” It is fortunate that 
most fish seem to know the character of their 
predacious neighbour, and no small fry are 
allowed, or care, to go near his haunts—those 
that were there originally having long ago entered 
its voracious jaws. And such jaws! Well may 
the little fish in sheer fright jump right out of the 
water, or make for the shallows, where the water- 
wolf cannot follow them. To the loach, the tiny 
sticklebacks, and the silvery minnows, the pike is 
a terrible giant and bugbear. Like most predatory 
fishes, his appetite is enormous, and his digestion 
quick. He will attack and attempt to swallow 
one of his own species almost his equal in weight 
and size, which feat we have more than once 
witnessed. He is also a great enemy to trout, 
and we know one of the best trout-streams in 
the country which he has almost depopulated. 
He is a difficult enemy to circumvent, his ex- 
tinction being almost impracticable; but with 
many baits and lures he affords good sport to 
