Again, there is a small river-fish called the
cottus or bullhead; this creature burrows under a rock, and fishers
catch it by clattering stones against the rock, and the fish,
bewildered at the noise, darts out of its hiding-place. From these
facts it is quite obvious that fishes can hear; and indeed some
people, from living near the sea and frequently witnessing such
phenomena, affirm that of all living creatures the fish is the
quickest of hearing. And, by the way, of all fishes the quickest of
hearing are the cestreus or mullet, the chremps, the labrax or
basse, the salpe or saupe, the chromis or sciaena, and such like.
Other fishes are less quick of hearing, and, as might be expected, are
more apt to be found living at the bottom of the sea.
The case is similar in regard to the sense of smell. Thus, as a
rule, fishes will not touch a bait that is not fresh, neither are they
all caught by one and the same bait, but they are severally caught
by baits suited to their several likings, and these baits they
distinguish by their sense of smell; and, by the way, some fishes
are attracted by malodorous baits, as the saupe, for instance, is
attracted by excrement.
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