Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-08-24

SuAucO oy sAcA cycos 4uAuA VI shS SAoo
in Chinese waters which mount up from
the sea to the head of a river two thou
sand miles distant from the Oceani There
must be exceeding intelligence in the
black bass, which protects her young as
valiantly as does her her chicks. Think,
too, of that fish which secures his food
by coordination which is reslly not
equaled by any other creatureI Tko fish
sees an insect on leaf or spear Of grass
overhanging the water. 1t rises to the
surface, sights the insect as riaeman
wouh his weapon of precision.
and unerringly fires crop Of
water, which never misses the tiny
mark-the insect, which knocked
off its perch by the globule of water,
falls into the stream, and is swallowed.
The assumption that fish possess a
great amount Of natural intelligence
need not be doubtedl A certain sagacity
is absolutely necessary in order to enable
fish to overcome the difficulties they
must encounter in obtaining food. An
instance of this character may be cited.
Near the Marquesas Islands the peace
full waters abound in fish and birds.
There are constant schools of flying fish
and bonitos. The latter exist almost en-
tirely on the former. The flying fish,
by clever flying, are always endeavoring
to escape the jaws of the bonitos; while
the devourers are up to all kinds Of stra-
tagems to circumvent their agile prey.
The bonitos seem to study the curve the
flying fish will take in the air, and the
DETECTION caused by the wind, and,
shooting across in a straight line, will
catch the fying-fish As he touches tn
water at the end of his flight. On one
occasion, when the sea was smooth and
the wind light, opportunity was taken to
throw out surface dredge, in order to
secure specimens. This dredge was made
of game. For several evenings in sue
cession it was observed that shortly after
sundown there were to be seen on the
surface of the water numbers of flying
fish. Many Of them were caught in the
dredge, and when taken out were found
to be disabled or dead. This occurrence
was so remarkable that the writer was
led to ask the reason why, and at once
set about finding the cause. Watching
the sea from position taken on the bow
of the ship as she was slowly surging
through the water, he observed large
school of bonitos, which separated into
three divisions. One took position di-
rectly ahea1 of the ship. the other at
some distance on either bow. Presently
the portion of the school on starboard
attracted attention by q disturbance on
the surface. They we're seen driving a
school of fiying-fish, who, to avoid the
bonitos, tried to pass ahead of the ship,
but they were prevented from doing so
by the school of fish on the larboard
side. Frightened, then by the bonitos
advancing toward them and fanking |
them on both sides, they took wing, and,
after few moments of hesitation, flew
directly toward the ships bow, always
pursued by their enemies. They were
corraled to their fate. Hundreds were
dashed against the ships prov, and fell
into the water, manned or killed, to be
gobbled by the bonitos, who
waited the ships coming, passing astern
to gorge themselves on their victims.
This act was plainly observable from the
stern of the ship, where the movements
of the bonitos could be studied.