158 
ACANTHOPTERYGII. — MUGILIDiE. 
a salt water mill-pool at Looe, which contains about 
twenty acres ; and the larger ones, having looked 
about for a turn or two, often return by the way i 
they had come. When, however, the return of 
the tide has closed the gates, and prevented this, 
though the space within is sufficiently large for 
pleasure and safety, the idea of constraint and 
danger sets them on effecting their deliverance. 
The wall is examined in every part ; and when 
the water is near the summit, efforts are made 
to throw themselves over, by which they are not i 
uncommonly left on the bank, to their own de- i 
struction. 
When, after being surrounded by a net, two 
or three have made their escape, and the margin 
of the net has been secured, and elevated above 
the surface, to render certain the capture of the 
only remaining one, I have seen the anxious pri- 
soner pass from end to end, examine every mesh, 
and all the folds that lay on the ground ; and 
at last, concluding that to pass through a mesh, 
or rend it, afforded the only, though desperate, 
chance of escape, it has retired to the greatest 
possible distance, which had not been done be- 
fore, and rushed at once to that part which was 
most tightly stretched. It was held, however, 
by the middle ; and conscious that all further 
effort must be unavailing, it yielded without a 
further struggle to its fate. 
The Grey Mullet selects food that is soft and 
fat, or such as has begun to suffer decomposition ; | 
in search of which it is often seen thrusting its | 
mouth into the soft mud; and, for selecting it, I 
the lips appear to be furnished with exquisite I 
sensibility of taste. It is, indeed, the only fish i 
