Delta chief., 1884-05-28

library door, and was looking intently
in the room. In few moments she
began to walk slowly toward large
aquarium that stood in the window. and
with light leap mounted the narrow
edge, balancing herself over the water.
Next she leaned down, thrust her red
tongue into the miniature lake, and be-
gan tapping the cooling water. Then
came a rush, and a bright speckled
object darted. A splash, clicking,
sucking sound, and wall of feline an
guish rose on the air. There was a
second of wavering. and round bunch
Of hair fell into the water with sound
ing splash, scrambled out again. and
disappeared through the door amid the
laughter of the witnesses.
That" said the host. "happcns
about every day, with only slight vari-
atoms. You see, the fish, sunfish, is
perfectly tame-trained, in fact, to rise
to my hand and take its food from me
by leaping several inches out OF the wa
ter. Being continually teased, the fish
has acquired an irritable temper, and
attacks everything that approaches the
water. Some time ago the cat discov.
cred the fish and leape upon the tank
as you have seen her do. putting her
head down in the water. The moment
her whiskers touched it the sunfish had
her, and hung on like good one. She
started back and fell to the floor, the
fish dropping back. The next day she
again made the attempt. and in balanc-
ing upon the side of the narrow rim her
tail touched the water. The fish seized
it and in she went, but she never seems
tn learn Inaf hA fsl, ,,,fstnnl-
her tongue for the meat feed it with
and nipped it well. You know it is
sometimes said that fish cannot see
what is going on out of water; this fell
low is an exception, however. Watch
it now."
The speaker took small piece of
cloth and held it over the tank and
within three feet OF the water. In a
moment the sharp-eyed and richly-hued
fish was at the surface. The rag was
then lowered and the prisoner leaped
clear OF its native element in its en-
desvor to reach it. The experimental
list next placed his hands in the water.
and the fish darted at them and passed
through his fingers, allowing itself to
be touched without the slightest sign of
fear.
iHc suHlsnes, shlu tne nsn trainer.
'.are, ! think. the most intelligent of
ali our fresh water fishes train them
to perform extraordinary feats. such as
jumping over hurdle on the surface
OF the water, and then over q series of
them. You often see fishes in nature
doing the same thing. / have trained
my suniish SO that Il rings bell sus-
pended over the aquarium. but, like
Barnum's clown elephant, il rings il
continuously unless supply Of food is
kept up. This suniish has its likes and
dislikes. and it has two fast friends in
pair of catfishes. Some time ago ]
introduced number of gold fishes, and
all but one were accepted in good fel.
lowship. Toward this one unfortunate,
that WAS one of the triple-tailed Japan.
csc fishes, the sunfish showed the great
est aversion. spending the entire time
in chasing it around the tank. biting i,
in the most savage manner, and seem
ingly urging on the catfishes. who.
though they would not touch the other
fishes, would creep slyly up to the vic.
tim and, seiEing n fin, cling to it with
ferocity. | was Obliged TO take the
poor fish out and place it in an adjoin.
ing tank. where the very sight of il still
enraged the suniish, and yet, as I said
before, towards the Americans it was
perfectly friendly" -..,......