fords a plain and direct instance, not only of contrivance, but strictly of that contrivance which we denominate me chanical. It is a philosophical apparatus in the body of an animal. The principle of the contrivance is clear; the application is also clear*."

If the attributes of the Deity are so conspicuously displayed in the general structure and conformation of fishes, they are no less so in the infinity of their number and sizes; in the provision made for at once keeping up the aumbers of this most numerous of all classes, and preventng the sea from being overstocked; and in that peculiarity of form and structure, so essentially necessary in the different species.

In this mighty reservoir, it may emphatically, indeed, be said, "there are creatures innumerable, both small and great" for who can attempt to calculate the numbers in those prodigious shoals that tinge the sea with their colour, without taking into consideration "those scally herds, and that minuter fry, which grace the sea weed, or stray through the coral groves‡," and what a diversity and variety of sizes do they assume, from the massy whale that sports at large in the Greenland Seas, to those minute

creatures

The rising and sinking of a fish in the water, so far as is indepen dent of the stroke of the fins and tail, can only be regulated by the specific gravity of the body. When the bladder, contained in the body of the fish, is contracted, which it probably possesses a muscular power of doing, the bulk of the fi h is contracted along with it; whereby, since the absolute weight remains the same, the specific gravity, which is the sinking force, is increased, and the fish descends; on the contrary, when, in consequence of the relaxation of the mus cles, the elasticity of the inclosed, and now compressed air, restores the dimensions of the bladder, the fish becomes proportionally lighter, and rises in the water.

+ Of this numerous and prolific race, LINNEUS reckons upwards of four hundred different species; but it is extremely probable, that numbers are concealed in the vast extent and profundity of the ocean, which have never yet been exposed to human observation-But who can count the numbers in each species?

When the main body of a shoal of herrings approach, its extent and depth is such as to make a visible alteration on the appearance of the ocean, and when near the surface in bright weather, reflects a variety of resplendent colours, resembling a field bespangled wi flowers of purple, golden, and azure tint♣

creatures which enter our creeks, and take up their abode in our harbours.

Yet, notwithstanding the prodigious numbers of some of these animals, and the stupendous size of others, as I observed before, they are all conveniently lodged and fed; which is the more surprising, if we take into consideration, the amazing fecundity of some, and the longevity of others of these creatures. It is asserted of the Herring, that if suffered to multiply unmolested, and its offspring to remain undiminished during the space of twenty years, it would shew a progeny many times greater in bulk than the whole earth!--that a single Cod-fish will produce at a birth, if they escaped depredation, a number equal to that of the in habitants of England. The Flounder is said to produce above a million at a time, and a Mackarel not less than five hundred thousand*; and, in regard to the longevity of fishes, several are said to live upwards of an hundred years. How then, it may be asked, are those myriads of subjects of the watery kingdom kept within due limits? How

* The number of eggs in a variety of fish, as ascertained by Mr THOMAS HARMER, and communicated by him to the Royal Society.

In a Carp

God

203,109 In a Pickrel

Flounder

Herring

Lobster

1,375,100

Roach

30,960

Shrimp

21,699

Smelt

564,681

28.323

80,338

3,806

81,586

6,807

38,278

100,000

383.252

How long a fish, that seems to have scarce any bounds put to its growth, continues to live, is not ascertained; but as theirs is a uniform existence, their movements without effort, and their life without la bour, perhaps the life of man would not be sufficient to measure that of the smallest, if preserved unmolested and kept from accident. There have been two methods devised for determining the age of fishes; the one is by the number of circles on the scales, and the other by the transverse section of the back. When a scale is exam ined by a microscope, it will be found to consist of a number of circles, one within another, resembling those which appear on the transverse section of a tree; and as the circles on the tree correspond with the years of its growth, so those upon the scales of fish are proportion ed to its life. The age of fish that want scales, it is said, may be de termined by separating the joints of the back bone, and then minutely observing the number of rings which the surface, where it was joined, exhibits.

How comes it to pass that the mighty basin is not overtocked? And how are its numerous tenants provided with God? This must be principally owing to the prevalence f the predatory system among fishes; for numerous as re the draughts taken from the bosom of the ocean for he service of man, they can bear no proportion to the umber that are left behind. But the sea, like the land, bounds not with a profusion of vegetables so as to be sufcient for the support of all, or even the greater part of § inhabitants, many of which are known to be of the most reedy and voracious natures. It was absolutely necesuy, therefore, that they should devour one another, and e experience of ages has proved, that great as the intease of these creatures is, and has been, it has never as et been more than enough; that the balance has hitherto en pretty equally kept up, and that while the astonishgly prolific powers of the finny tribes have been found fficient for keeping up a constant supply, and making up r every waste, yet there will always be found a requi te number of hungry mouths to devour the overplus*. In regard to the particular construction of fishes I would riefly remark, that the Whale has often occasion to asend to the surface of the water for the purpose of breath1g, and it has a tail peculiarly constructed to enable it to 0 60. His coat of blubber may be absolutely necessary to ake his body equiponderate in the water, and to keep is blood warm; while in the absence of offensive weapons e is possessed of extraordinary agility, and by a stroke of is tail can deal destruction to his pursuert. The Cod, he Haddock, the Whiting, and others, whose princi

pal

A single Pike has been known to devour Ioc Roaches in three ays. Whatever is possessed of life seems the most desirable food of sh.

Some of the smallest feed upon worms and spawn; others, hose mouths are larger seek larger prey, it matters not of what kind, r whether it is or is not of their own species. Those with the largst mouths pursue almost every thing that has life; and often meetng each other in fierce opposition, the fish with the largest swallow omes off victorious by devouring its antagonist!

The strength of a Whale lies chiefly in the tail.-A boat has been ut down from the top to the bottom, by means of this formidable intrument, though the gunnel on the top was of tough wood. Another has had the stern-post three inches thick, cut off smooth, without so much as shattering the boat, or drawing the nails of the boards.

pal element is in the middle region of the ocean, have an air bladder to raise and depress them at pleasure: while the Scate, the Thornback, and others, that grovel mostly at the bottom, are destitute of this wonderful instrument*. The Nar-Whale being a harmless and peaceable animal, may probably make use of the horn which rises from its brow for the purpose of breaking the ice, or disengaging the plants on which it feeds from the bottom of the sea. The Sword-fish will not fail to attack even the Whale himself, and with what a fearful and dan gerous weapon is he armed for the purpose. Of all the inhabitants of the deep, the Shark is the fiercest and most voracious, and in celerity of movement surpasses most, if not all, of the finny race; but to counterbalance powers, and an appetite for destruction, that might thin the ocean, there is a strange singularity in the projecting of his upper over his under jaw, so that he is obliged to turn in order to take hold of his prey, and while he is doing so his victim oft makes its escape. Crabs, lobsters, whilks, muscles, and other shell-fish are the food of the Wolf fish, and for the purpose of effecting the destruction of such well defended prey, this animal is provided with teeth remarkable for their strength. The Flying-fish has many enemies in both ele inents, but it is provided with instruments by which it can betake itself either to the water or the air, as occasion may requiret.

The structure of the Sucking fish enables it to attach itself firmly to the bodies of animals; that of the Ammodytes, or Sand-Eel, particularly the head, is most excellently formed for piercing into the sand. The flatness of the Scate and Flounder enable them to cover emselves up in the sand or mud when they lie in wait for their prey; and the Turbot is said to be provided with a skin or membrane,

The Air-bladder is a vesicle found in the bodies of all spinous or bony fish, though not in those of the cartilaginous or cetaceous kin.

In the tropical climates these fishes when hotly pursued are seen springing by hundreds out of the water, and sometimes throw themselves on board of ships in order to escape their various assailants The piedaceous fishes that swim in the ocean, and all the birds of prey that range its surface, seem to be combined against it. It is no wonder, therefore, that the beneficent Author of nature has endowed a fish exposed to so many enemies with a twofold power of escape.

brane, which draws over his eyes when he has occasion to stick fast at the bottom in stormy weather. The Globefish is beset with prickles like a hedge-hog, and bids defiance to all birds of prey:-The Torpedo benumbs on a sudden, and renders impotent whatever fish it assaults* :-The Torporific Eel imparts a sensation similar to that which is experienced from electricityt:-The Cuttle-fish is furnished with a liquid magazine of an inky colour, to darken the waters when pursued by an enemy:-The Galley-fish is protected by the caustic quality of the substance with which its legs are smeared:-The abhorrent appearance of the Sea Orb, is sufficient to disgust men from handling it, and more so to deter them from partaking of its poisonous quality by way of food and it is not improbable, but the hideous form of the Sea Devil and other monsters of the deep, may have been stamped upon them by nature (which does nothing in vain) for similar purposes§.

VOL. II.

M M

THE

This surprising fish, is said also to strike the fisherman's arm, when he attempts to lay hold on it, with a temporary deadness. "The instant," says KEMPFER, "I touched it with my hand, I felt a terrible numbness in my arm, and as far up as my shoulder. Even if one treads upon it with the shoe on, it affects not only the leg but the whole thigh upwards.

+ If the torporific Eel is caught with a hook and line, the person that holds the line feels a shock like that obtained by an electrical machine.

A sailor would not be dissuaded from eating one at the Cape of Good Hope, but his rashness cost him his life.

The Sea-Devil is also a creature of an ugly shape, sufficient to inspire terror, having its tail terminating in a dangerous point. The Negroes are said to catch them for their oil.

My juvenile readers would perhaps be displeased, if I said not a word about Mermen and Mermaids, whose existence is certainly as well authenticated as the Norway Kraken, mentioned in my note, page 401.-I would, therefore, just observe, that there is nothing more miraculous, in some of the finny tribe having their upper parts some what moulded in the human form, than that the Orang Outang should have such a striking resemblance to, and walk upright like a man. We know well, that some of the amphibious race, in more respects than one, resemble another order of creatures, and why it should be thought impossible that some of this class should have a head somewhat like an ape, or the Wild Man in the woed, I am at a loss to know. The power of the Almighty is unbounded, both as to sixe and form, and whatever the thoughtless and inconsiderate may think, the diligent and attentive student of nature will not hesitate to say, that