Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/171

Rh "This fish never goes to a great distance from land, but delights in shallow water, when the weather is warm and fine; at which time it is seen prowling near the margin in search of food, and imprinting a dimple on the placid surface as it snatches beneath any oily substance that may chance to be swimming. It ventures to some distance up rivers, but always returns with the tide. Carew, the Cornish historian, had a pond of salt-water, in which these fish were kept; and he says that, having been accustomed to feed them at a certain place every evening, they became so tame, that a knocking like that of chopping would certainly cause them to assemble. The intelligence this argues may also be inferred from the skill and vigilance this fish displays in avoiding danger, more especially in effecting its escape in circumstances of great peril. When enclosed within a ground-seine, or sweep-net, as soon as the danger is seen, and before the limits of its range are straitened, and when even the end of the net might be passed, it is its common habit to prefer the shorter course, and throw itself over the headline, and so escape; and when one of the company passes, all immediately follow.

"This disposition is so innate in the Grey Mullet, that young ones of minute size may be seen tumbling themselves head over tail in their active exertions to pass the head-line. I have even known a Mullet less than an inch in length, to throw itself repeatedly over the side of a cup in which the water was an inch below the brim.

"Mullets frequently enter by the flood-gates into