The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1883-08-11
The MuscalIongc.

The masg' 'nllonge Is simply an
enormous pickerel or ovcrgrown pike,
and exhibits no characteristics not COM
mon 10 these fish other than ARE the ~
suit Of superior size. His distinguish
ing marks are the absence Of teeth In
the anterior portion Of the lower jaw.
bare checks and half-naked (the lower
halD opercles or glll-covcrs. lie Is not
10 abundant as the trout, or 20 hand
some, cleanly and arlstocpalIc fish.
since he exhibits preference for shall
low and less pellucid waters aud rscdy
and muddy bottoms over crystal depths
and gravclly reaches. While Namay-
cush may be styled the leopard or tiger
Of the open waters. this fellow Is hut tho
jackal and hyena Of subaqueous forests
and junglcs. and n lover OF filth and
carrlon. There Is nothing frank. open
or careless In his composition or meth
ods. On the contrary. he u shy, eau
ilous, sneaking. pecrlng and craffy-an
arrnnt knave and coward, who never
pnrsues his prey boldly and fairly. but
waits In hiding for unsuspecting Vie
Tins, upon which he pounces with more
than luplne ferocity aud drags 10 bis
lair. there 10 gloat upon. torment and
devonr nj his leisure. His very face, a.
well as the character Of his teeth. Is
an index Of his base and cruel
disposition. His eye Is absolutely
devilisi In its malignancy, and bis 1.-THE.
active body, marked and variegaied
with black. green and white. In spite of
n certain eIlttering beauty, IA cold.
clsmmy and snake-lIke In form and APP
pcarance. Namaycush Is hot-hesded.
bold. fearless and pugnacious, stopping
short st nothing; willis Esox is cool.
slow. calculating and crafty, and moro
than an ordinary fyrani. In that he
preys only upon those far weaker than
himself and every way his interiors In
point Of slze. His delight Il . shallow,
rccdy pool. where the lily pads and Wild
rice nttrnct the waterfowl. and from be-
nenih whose shadows he can silently
aud deftly poke up his long anout and
seize upon some tender and conIIdin9
duckllng. which. 10 the amazement of :
proud and happy mother. diaappcan
suddenly In swirl " water 10 pay
tribute 10 incarnate rnpacify. Nothing
comes amizs 10 him that j. nesh.
whether clothed In fur. scales or
feaihers--not even sinking offal. sim.
he will fight when cornercd. and tbst,
too. good and strong" and with III
the ufcksdnens Of bis nialevoIenf dlspo-
sition; and bic supple form 4 cspalls
Of al sorts of tnheAFsi-of iwiaiinGn.
writings and contoriions, - n now
dives like fash 10 the bottom. then
reappeap In mid-air. shaking hls
head like m angry bull and dphing
the water In showers from his elIi)efiG[
sides. and again dashinR end evirilnf
about the pool. IsshIng Il 10 BIZ rnG5
till II II covered with mass q fealhefy.
sparkling foam. lie i maFvsloss h
bic strength. and possesses a eelpa|ah-
ing and ncvcr-endlnR frpertofy q lsIn16
and devices thst try and puzllo y ~
utmost the arts ss1 wise q ~ nneioR,
for In that long head a he tkue krk6
4 brain Of rpmArkAhIe fertility ~ 60
ming. He viii hear moFe puriGAmnn1
BY ten times Than either ts6o1 - ~.
mon. yrt appenfs 70 sulIer mGlo -
when lmpalcd upon lhe npo1R viii III
and uriihs and even M - mnr1o1a
teeth into he hsnd|e = mahn 3 f1Ic11~
q he jaws vhereby = iUI1 kInDoM u
the bArl'.d pfoafH reG1r!Ie4 = -
and er1el IaeeF1lIg1A - - ~