MACKAEEL MIDGE. 
115 
pleasure in rubbing tbcmselves by passing to and fro belorr a 
floating clump of sea-weed, or tlie corks of a net. They also 
rejoice in tbe skelter afforded beneath the expanded canopy of 
the larger medusoe; and in keeping close to such objects they 
sometimes become so entirely off their guard as to suffer them- 
selves to be taken with the hand. Yet they usually exercise 
much vigilance and activity, and dart away on a slight appearance 
of danger; and when left by the tide in some large pool of the 
rocks, their movements are nimble, with the appearance of being 
instigated by intense feelings of delight. 
Pursuing and pursued the tail has been bent to one side, 
and in this position it has urged and driven the little creatures 
in their gambols, safe, at that time at least, from the intrusion 
of voracious enemies. Kept in a glass vessel, there is shewn 
the same disposition to seek the shelter of some covering object, 
whether on the surface or at the bottom; and in the situation 
last mentioned, the fish was so fortunate as to find a small 
fragment of green oreweed, beneath which it passed a con- 
siderable portion of its time. 
They die immediately on being taken from the water. 
There is no doubt that these fishes feed on animal substances, 
and there is proof that they are even eager after it. An 
individual of this species was placed in a glass globe with two 
very small Grey Mullets, and a piece of brown oreweed that 
was covered with cord-like convolutions of the ova of some 
kind of molluscous creature of a pink red colour. After a 
fortnight it was found that these mullets had devoured the 
whole of the ova contained in this mucous cord, but the covering 
itseKwas only torn to pieces by them; but the Mackarcl Midge 
had had no share in this feast. His longing was for more 
substantial things, and he finally attacked one of the Mullets, 
which he laid hold of near its head, and so grasped it as to 
carry it about his prison for more than a minute, without being 
able to swallow the fish, which was equal to two thirds of its 
own size. Both it and the surviving Mullet were afterwards 
fed on bread. Mr. Peach discovered this fish in abundance at 
Wick, in Scotland; and he found that they took animal food 
freely in captivity, making a dash at it when held to them on 
a feather ; and so firmly did they hold it, that they were lifted 
out of the water as they retained it with their teeth, fighting 
