The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
The following are the best individual
BULLIES AMONG THE FISHES.
Scenes At the Aquarium That Recall the
Ways OF Boyh0od.


When, at the Aquarium, they get together
q tank Of fishes that live In peace and har-
mony. they neither take away from nor
add to II carelessly. but keep it together.
and In that comfortable state as long a.
they ian.
Not that fishes are any more quarrel
some than many other living creatures,
but they are just about the same as other
creatures. 1t is a common thing for one
fish to nag another, as one boy In a school
might nag another boy.
Out OF a dozen fishes In a tank there might
be one OF a nagging disposition. that would
be forever picking at some other One fish,
as big as itself. or it might be one bigger or
smaller. The rest Of the fishes in the tank,
very likely. would take no part in his bee
toring at all.
As sometimes. the gentle boy at school,
~iong-pursued, says to himself. finally. that
the next time that rufian touches him, hes
going to lick him or die in the attempt.
and then when the time comes. pitches IN
and ticks the bully clean out Of his boots.
to the delight and applause OF the whols
school, SO, sometimes, does q gentle or
timid fish turn on the hector OF the tank
here and give II battle. n down IL for good
and all, and becomes itself, 1t may be. the
boss there for a time, the tank then. with
the bully squelched, settling down for .
time in peace and quiet
Still. the bully remains a bully at heart
and vii attack and poster and worry any
new Ash put into the tank; 40 that finally
IL may be necessary TO take the bully out
and put him somewhere else to give That
tank peace.
At the same time Il Is q common thing for
all or any OF the fishes in a tank 10 attack
com that are put In 20 share the tank
with them. But this more or less general
resentment of a intrusion. II so II may BE-
regarded, Ia likely soon 10 subeide, the new
fishes being then received into the tank
family.
But there may still be In the a some
Ash that Is a fighter; and 1t may single out
some other fish as the object Of Its pursuit.
and harry ard worry and attack IL until
they have to take the harried fish out Of ths
tank to save It's life, One case OF this sort.
at the Aquarium, with its sequel. seemed
TO show that fishes hs We memory.
A fish that had been persistently har-
Red and attacked In n OF the tanks, and
that had upon it's body various marks and
scratches made by It's barrier. was taken
out Of that tank and put In a reserve tank,
to give /, a rest and let II get into condition
again. At the end OF three months, bright
and clipper, this fish was put back In tbs
same tank whence u had been taken,
But the fish that practically had driven
II out before wouldn't let 1t stay. This
fish appeared 10 know the returned fish,
and o II singled II out n looked Il
over, with a look that seemed to say;
what Didn't ycouv get enough tho last
And IL h. O ored the returned fish % that
they finally had 10 take II out OF the tank
again and keep II out.
The middle one In size Of three hshes
IN one tank at the Aquarium took It into
its head TO boss the other two around,
than Il, as well as the one smaller. sub
hitting for a time without hghting back.
But finally these two plucked up courage
encu-h, or woke up enough, 70 stand the
fighter on, and there was peace in the TANK
from that minute.
With their heads close together up In one
corner Of a tank, their bodies extending
back along the bottom Of the tam IKE
tNs arms ~ a letter V. They locked in
h ,r way as two boys might ook who
had got their heads together over some
tremendous boyish secret.
Then. as sometimes in the case OF tho
boys, SONS third boy comes up and pushes
I'm between the two. SO here snother
drh OF about the size OF these two cans
up and, swi~Tins IN ssSs. made 1eise pushei
i,s head On between their heads and pushed
Was this third fish, which had been alone.
curious about what the two were COM
muning over, or Jealous OF them oeoause
they were friendly together TO it's eIoiu-
sion1 Or what made II push In so and de-
iiharately separate the other two|