322 PIKE. Class IV. 



even contend with the otter for its prey, and endea- 

 vour to force it out of its mouth*. 



Small fifh fhew the fam.e uneafinefs and detefta- 

 tion at the prefence of this tyrant, as the little birds 

 do at the fight of the havvk or owl. When the 

 pike lies dormant near the furface (as is fre- 

 quently the cafe) the lefTer fifh are often obferved 

 to fwim around it in vaft numbers, and in great 

 anxiety. Pike are often haltered in a noofe, and 

 taken while they lie thus afleep. as they are often 

 found in the ditches near the 'Thames in the month 

 of May. 



In the {hallow water of the Lincolnjhire fens they 

 are frequently taken in a manner peculiar, we be- 

 lieve, to that county, and the ifle of Ceylon f. 

 The fifhermen make ufe of what is called a crown- 

 net, which is no more than a hemifpherical bafl^et, 

 open at top and bottom. He llands at the end 

 of one of the little fenboats, and frequently puts 

 his bafket down to the bottom of the water, then 

 poking a flick into it, difcovers- whether he has 

 any booty by the ftriking of the fifii j and vaft 

 numbers of pike are taken in this manner. 

 Longevity. The longevky of this fifh is very remarkable, if 

 we may credit the accounts given of it. Rzaczyn- 

 fii\ tells us of one that was ninety years old; 



* Walter., 157. 



t Knox's Hijl. Ceylon^ 28. 



$ Hiji, Nst, Poknice, 152. 



but 



