|
But if these relations be disbelieved, it is too evident to be doubted,
that
a Pike will devour a fish of his own kind that shall be bigger than
his
belly or throat will receive, and swallow a part of him, and let
the other
part remain in his mouth till the swallowed part be digested, and
then
swallow that other part that was in his mouth, and so put it over
by
degrees; which is not unlike the Ox, and some other beasts taking
their
meat, not out of their mouth immediately into their belly, but first
into
some place betwixt, and then chew it, or digest it by degrees after,
which is called chewing the cud. And, doubtless, Pikes will bite
when
they are not hungry; but, as some think, even for very anger, when
a
tempting bait comes near to them.
And it is observed, that the Pike will eat venomous things, as
some kind
of frogs are, and yet live without being harmed by them; for,
as some
say, he has in him a natural balsam, or antidote against all poison.
And
he has a strange heat, that though it appear to us to be cold,
can yet
digest or put over any fish-flesh, by degrees, without being sick.
And
others observe, that he never eats the venomous frog till he have
first
killed her, and then as ducks are observed to do to frogs in spawning-
time, at which time some frogs are observed to be venomous, so
thoroughly washed her, by tumbling her up and down in the water,
that
he may devour her without danger. And Gesner affirms, that a Polonian
gentleman did faithfully assure him, he had seen two young geese
at
one time in the belly of a Pike. And doubtless a Pike in his height
of
hunger will bite at and devour a dog that swims in a pond; and
there
have been examples of it, or the like; for as I told you, "
The belly has
no ears when hunger comes upon it "
The Pike is also observed to be a solitary, melancholy, and a
bold fish;
melancholy, because he always swims or rests himself alone, and
never
swims in shoals or with company, as Roach and Dace, and most other
fish do: and bold, because he fears not a shadow, or to see or
be seen of
anybody, as the Trout and Chub, and all other fish do.
|
|
