60 Fish think. Chapt. v. 



the last half of the idea, it is a natural sequence; it 

 would be a work of supererogation to tell him he must 

 not fire before you; he never dreamt of such a thing, 

 for he has been too well drilled. The position of the 

 small fish is a parallel one. They only need to see in the 

 big fish's eye a look of preparedness to take the bait, 

 and they understand the rest. He will take it at the 

 time he considers best for surprising what he conceives 

 to be a live fish, just as you will take your shot when 

 you get a fair view of the shoulder, though there be a 

 little delay it should be quite as comprehensible to the 

 small fish as it is' to the gun bearer that the master is 

 only waiting his opportunity, for there is a look in his 

 eye that means business, and that is enough. 



Do you doubt that fish have ideas, and are able to 

 communicate them? It might be proved abundantly that 

 fish can think for themselves ; and that they should be 

 unable to communicate their ideas to each other would 

 be contrary to the analogy of all nature. Let- it suffice 

 to ask a few questions which can elicit no reply but 

 that fish can and do think intelligently. Small fish see 

 a large one going to spawn; they follow her in a crowd, 

 and wait patiently till she has worked out a hollow in 

 the gravel, and commenced to spawn therein, and then 

 they feed busily on the stray ova that are washed down 

 to them. Have they not recognized in the appearance 

 of the female, or in the companionship of the male, an 

 indication that the act of spawning- is about to take 

 place; else why have they assiduously followed her? 



