Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/125

Rh greed succumbed to pain, and he left his desired victims in peace. At the end of three months the plate of glass was removed, and the Pike had thus free access to the fish that were formerly preserved by this obstacle; but, strange to say, he never approached them. The idea of pain, doubtless appreciable to his senses, had become so dominantly connected with the small fish as to prevent any further attack. This experiment—easy to renew—adds much light to the psychology of fishes.

in the 'Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France' (1897, p. 187), contributes some more observations on the habits of Rattlesnakes. In past years his Crotales had fed on nothing but mice, but now they took birds with avidity. Once he introduced a sparrow in a cage containing two large snakes, when both struck at it simultaneously, the bird escaping; but the largest snake had struck the other one by the head, and Mr. Selous had much trouble in separating them. The head of the smaller snake swelled rapidly, and he was afraid it would die, but after some time the swelling disappeared, and the wounded individual swallowed a mouse. This went to prove that their poison is somewhat harmless to the snakes themselves. Another strange observation was that sometimes these snakes disgorge pellets composed of hairs and feathers, after the manner of owls. Mr. Selous was bitten by one of these snakes. He immediately enlarged the wound with his knife, and sucked the same vigorously, till he thought he had extracted the poison, when he filled the wound with permanganate of potash. But the next day he was very ill, and, becoming worse, had to seek medical assistance, when he was ordered strychnine pills. He suffered, however, for some time, and still felt the effect at the time of writing.

'A Handy Guide to Fish Culture,' written by J.J. Armistead, and published by "The Angler, Limited," Scarborough and London, the amateur pisciculturist will find much invaluable advice, and the zoologist may glean a few facts. It is a condensation in brochure and very inexpensive form, of a larger work by the same author. Not only is the rearing of Trout described, but the construction, planting, and stocking of a fish-pond made clear to anyone who either wishes to follow the pursuit as a study, amusement, or as a business or source of profit. We have recently noticed several publications connected with aquaria; in this small treatise the reader may advance his knowledge from that afforded by the glass tank to what may be obtained from the fuller experience of a dam, or fish-pond, with its aquatic vegetation which is indispensable, its surrounding trees and plants which afford entomological provender, and the varied animal-life which must be introduced to afford the nutriment of fish.