The Helena independent., 1892-09-25

yourself not only this question. but many a
stranger one. II fishes are fools. how is it
that the angler has so generally to tax his
ingenuity to outwit them? How closely
nature must be copied to deceive trout!
Having sold so much OF small fishes, what
them? A pike. for instance. Probably
many more people have studied how to catch
pike than have studied systematically. It
10 tirssome. perhaps: but if a student of
natural history really desires to know what
a fish actually is, he must watch it for
hours. being himself unseen.
At one time there we're several large pike
in my lotus pond. Under the huge cir
oular leaves of this splendid plant they
took refuge, and it was difficult to
catch even . glimpse OF them. At the
Same time the schools of minnows
seemed to enjoy the sunlight and
spcsted in the water More tSs H
rush out from it's cover and finally learned
that it systematically laid in wait for the
minnows; and I believe l am justified in
adding that the minnows knew that danger
lurksd under the lotus leaves. The situa-
ton was not so haphazard a ono as might
Watching convinced me that there was n
decided exercise Of ingenuity on the part OF
both the pike and the minnows, the former
ever on the lookout for victim, the latter
watchful OF an ever present danger. All day
long it was tragedy where brute force
couIted for little and cunning for great
deal.
Another very common fish in my ponds
was likewise very suggestive in connection
with tho subject Of animal intelligence. I
refer to the common sunny" or pump
kinseed.' A shallow sand nest had been
scoopsd near shore and the precious eggs
deposited. A school Of silvery -fnned min
nows had discovered them, and the parent
fish was severely taxed in her efforts to p O.
tsct them. So long As this school of min
nows kept together the sun fish by a fierce
rush kept them back. but soon the former
was it accident or design?-dividtd their
forces, md as the parent fish da ted at one
assaulting party the other behind 10 made
. successful raid upon ths nest. This con-
tinued for some time and the suntish was
getting quite weary, when, as il a sudden
thought struck it. its tnctics changed and it
swan round and round in a circle and sent
a shower of sand out into the space beyond
the nest. This dazed the minnows etfot-
ually.
Little incidents like these ara forever o.
curing and effectually set aside the once
prevalent idea that fish ara mere living
machines. Look a pike in the eye and you
will detect something very different from
mere instructive timidity.
But fish are not the only creatures that
live in the water; there is one snake and
several species of turtles, and frogs, mol
lusos and insects innumerable. These are
too apt to be associated with the land, and.
except the two latter forms, are unusually
thought Of as taking to the water as place
Of refuge and really living In the open air.
This 10 a great mistake. There ia a lively
world beneath tho surface of the water. and
the tragedy Of life ia played to tho very end,
with here and there pretty comedy, that
wards off the blues, when We look too long.
and ses nothing but the destruction of one
creature that nothing may live.
Here IL cunning or wit in water snake.
A friend of mine was recently sitting on the
banks of a little bi ook when his attention
was called to commotion almost at his
feet. Looking down he SAW q snake holding
its head above the water and in its mouth
struggled small sunfsh. Now, what was
the snakes purpose? 1t knew very we'll
that tho fish would drown in the mir. and
not until IL was dead could II be swallowed
with shat deliberation = snake loves. The
creature was cunning enough to kill by
easy means prey that would otherwise be
difficult TO overcome, for while crosswiSo in
thes makes mouth IL could not be- swallowed,
and IL put down for an Instant the chances
Of its re capture would be slight.
10 suppose that II turtle, as you watch it
crawling over the mud. had any sense of
humor in its horny head seems absurd; vet
naturaliats have recorded their being seen
at pluy, and certainly they can readily Le
tamsi to q remarkable degree. Their in.
teiiiRence, however. shows out prominently
only In the degree Of cunning exhibited
when they are in search of food. The huge
snapper "liss in wait" and certainly this II