The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-08-19
Miscellany.
Natural History.

THE INTELLIGENCE OF FISHES.
Ernest Mensault, new champion for The
intelligence of animals, has revived the dis
cussion in book full of facts and differences
which, if not all new, are 10 the point. We
take an example or two:
The fish belongs to the great Flathead fam
lily. The same sort of platitude which YOU
see in his person, doubtless extends to the
whole OF his character. You have met him
somewhere in human shape-one of those
pale-faced, wishy..washy gentlemen, whose
passions have extingrished all heart and feel-
ing. You often find them in diplomatic re-
gions, and can't tell whether they are fish
or flesh. But if their mental powers are less
developed, their term of existence is more
extended. They gain iii longevity what they
lose in warmth of temperament. g,. :
Nevertheless, the skill with which the stick
le-back constructs his nest is now matter of
natural history. Other fishes display an ad-
dress which we acquire only by long and con-
slant practice. One fellow, with a muzzle
prolonged into narrow tube, (which he uses
as pOpgun) prowls about the banks of
tidal rivers. On spying fly on the water
weeds, he syly swims up till he gets within
five or six feet of it. He then shoots it with
water from his proboscis, never failing
to bring down his game. A governor OF the
hospital at Batavia, doubling the TACT, though
attested by credible witnesses, procured some
or these fish to watch their pranks He
stuck fly on pin at the end of a stick, and
placed it so as to attract their notice. To his
great delight, they shot it with their water
guns, Tor which he rewarded them with a
treat OF insects. +la,t t8 II
The pike has proved himself not only in
telgeDt, but even capable-dsbelieve it
who will-of gratitude.
"Whiln llVino q I1Ip ham - caxc Dr Wor
wick, II took walk one evening in Lord
Stamford,s park. On reaching a pond in
which fish We're kept ready for use, observ-
ed hne pike OF some six pounds weight. At
my approach he darted away like an arrow
In his berry he knocked his head against an
iron hook fixed in post in the water, frac-
turing his skull and injuring the optic nerve
on one side OF his head. He appeared to suf-
fer terrible pain; he plunged into the mud,
houndeled hither and thither, and at last
leaping out of the water, fell on the bank
On examination portion of the brain was
seen protruding through the fractured skull.
This carefully ed to its place, max
ing use OF a small silver toothpick to raise the
splinters OF broken bone. The fish remained
quiet during the operation; when it was over
he plunged into the pond. At first, his suf-
ferines appeared to be relieved, but in the
course OF a few minutes he began rushing
RIGHT and left until he again leaped out of the
water. .i'.
Il called the keeper, and with his assistance
applied bandage to the fracture. This done,
we restored him to the pond and left him to
his fate. Next morning, as soon as reached
the waters edge, the pike swan to meet me
quite close to the bank, and laid his head up
on my feet. I thought this an extraordinary
proceeding. Without further delay l exam
ined the wound, and found it was healing
nicely. then strolled tor some time by the
side OF the pond. The fish swan after me,
following my steps and turning as turned.
The following cay brought a few young
friends with me to see the fish. He swan
toward me as before. Little by little he be-
came so tame as to come TO my whistle, and
eat out of my hand. With other persons, on
the contrary, he continued as shy and wild as
ever"