654 General Notes. [ October, 
CAPTURE OF A SAw-FISH.—When riding on the beach at Gal- 
veston, Texas, on the Ist of April last, I noticed some Mexican 
fishermen drawing a seine to shore to which was attached a large 
saw-fish (Pristis antiquorum). The animal was not enclosed 
within the net, but some of the meshes had become engaged 
with the teeth of the saw, and by this attachment it was drawn 
several hundred feet towards the shore, the large dorsal fin alone 
showing above the water suggesting that a shark was entangled 
in the net, but if a shark it must have been a dead one, for not 
the least effort at resistance was made, nor even signs of life, for 
the object drifted in as lifeless as a log till it touched the bottom; 
then indeed it made a few spasmodic efforts showing terrific 
power, in which the head and saw were thrown high into the air 
and swung around ina fearful way, while the tail was lashed 
about, showing that a bullock could not have withstood the 
blows. 
This demonstration did not last five seconds, but it had brought 
the monster considerably nearer the shore and into about one foot 
of water where she lay perfectly quiet. The Mexicans then 
cautiously approached and slipped a noose over the tail, which 
was very broad, though the body just above it was but afew 
inches in diameter. When an attempt was made to pull her to 
shore, she made one more effort though but for an instant, when 
she quickly resigned herself to her fate. After she was nearly 
clear of the water eight men could not pull her more than one 
foot at a time, but she was finally landed well up on the beach. I 
did not venture near enough to measure her, but judged her body 
was eleven feet and her saw four feet long. At the shoulders I 
judged she was eighteen inches broad; thence it gradually 
tapered to the tail. ; 
The extraordinary feature was the immobility of the animal 
under the circumstances; she was drawn in several hundred feet 
by a twine not larger than a knitting-needle, and she suffered her- 
self to be dragged through the sand, tail foremost, without the 
least effort at resistance, or the least motion to show that she was 
suffering. I would like to know if this is usual with this fish 
when captured ? ; 
I learned that three well-grown foetal saw-fish were found in 
her.— 7. D. Caton. ; 
INTELLIGENCE IN CAnTHON.—The observation of Mr. Powell je 
your May number (page 124) on earth-worms reminded me © 
a similar display of reason in a Canthon volvens, which I think 1S 
worthy to be noted. One summer day I took a walk in r 
woods and met a beetle of the above kind singly pushing forwar 
its ball in a straight direction, when it arrived at a certain pom 
there was a slight declivity and the ball rolled sideways down 
about a yard ; the beetle followed, and reaching the ball mounted 
= and looked around. Then it descended and went to work again, : a 
