On the Regeneration of certain Parts of Fijhes, n^j 



the back, in which I could fcarcely In almoft all filh, the cartilages of 



diftingiiiih the new cartilages {qvo^u. the fins and tail are very ftrong and 



months after they had been cut. numerous. If we compare the num- 



The membrane which formed the ber of thefe bony fubftances with that 



firft rudiments of the fin, had dif- of the bones of the paws of a fala- 



ferent degrees of thicknefs, accord- mander, we fhall find that it is much 



ing to the different kinds of fifhes. fuperior. There is, indeed, a very 



It was compofed of two leaves, be- great difference between thefe or- 



tween which were the griftles, com- gans, efpecially refpeding the man« 



pofed fometimes of one piece, hard ner in which the different hard parts 



and fharp, but more frequently of are conneded with one another, 



feveral bony parts, clofely united by If the membrane which forms the 



a cartilaginous fubftance. That the fins has been torn, according to the 



fins may be reproduced, part of the direftion of the cartilages, the two 



cartilages muft be left. If this part parts will unite, and form a kind of 



be entirely deftroyed, new fins will future, which difappears by degrees, 



not grow up in the room of the old Fifhes are often found whicli have 



ones. This I have often obferved in feveral of thefe futures in their fins, 



feveral fifhes, thedorfal fins of which, efpecially in thofe of the back, 



with part of the back, had been This regenerating faculty of the 



taken away, and in the room of fins is fo much the more ufeful to 



which there was formed a plain fu- fifhes, as thefe parts are continually 



ture. expofed to be torn or cut either by 



Though fifh cannot well difpenfe different bodies being dafhed againfl 



with thefe organs, they are able in them, or by the teeth of animals, 



fome meafure to fupply what is want- Their increafe, however, appeared 



ing by thofe which are left. I have to me to be always very flow, but 



feen very large fifh live feveral years, there is every reafon to believe that it 



though deprived of the half of their is much quicker in thofe fifh which 



bodies, that is to fay, of that part are in a flate of liberty, 



which extends from the anus to the My intention, in thefe few obferva- 



tail. tions, has been to prefent a fact. 



The wingsof birds have been com- which, in myopinion, maybe of fome 

 pared to the fins of fifh, and the fea- ufe to phyfiology, and to offer a new 

 thers to the cartilages of the latter; proof of the multiplicity of the re- 

 but there is a very great difference in fources of nature, when it may be 

 thefe organs, in refpedt to the man- neceffary to rcflore to organifed bodies 

 ner in which they are reproduced; that original flate of perfeclion which 

 we know that the feathers never grow they have been deprived of by fe- 

 up after they have been cut. condary caufes. 



A Short acg^ount of MOLA DI GAETA. 



MOLA Dl GAETA is a l&nall The fame poet compares the wines 



town of Italy, in the kingdt>cri made from the grapes of the Formian 



of Naples, fituated on the fea, in the ..hills, with Falernian : 



Terra-di-Lavoro, and built on the \^ 



ruins of the ancient Formiae. Horace ""* ~ Mea nee Falernje, 



coiiipliments ^.lius Lamia on his be- T^qiperant vitcs, nequc Formiani 



ing defcended from the firft founder Pocu1^co!les. 



^' The happy utii^ati on of this country, 



-x-.A^v^ ,k wi J • ' • and the mildnefs^of its climate, in- 



Auttore ab lilo ducis onginem, , , ^ , X ^^ . » 



Qui Formiarummceniadicuur, duccd many of the Romans m the 



Princeps— — . flourifhing times of the republic to 



Vol. III. P erea 



