380 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



alone a prodigious multitude of fifhes, of very dif- 

 ferent colours and forms, with the greateft part of 

 which our Ichthologifls are hitherto totally unac- 

 quainted. 



As often, therefore, as you fee a brilliant fifli, 

 you may be aflured that his habitation is near the 

 Ihore, and that, on the contrary, he lives in the 

 open Ocean, if he is of a dark colour. The truth 

 of this may be afcertained by ourfelves, in the 

 channels, and on the banks of our own rivers, 

 The fiiver fmelt, and the blay, whofe fcales are 

 employed in the formation of mock pearls, play 

 on the ftrand of the Seine ; whereas the eel, of the 

 gloomy colour of flate, takes pleafure to dabble 

 in the midft, and at the bottom of the ftream. 

 We mud not, however, pretend to generalize thefe 

 Laws, to the exclufion of all exceptions. Nature, 

 as has been faid, fubjeds all to the mutual adap- 

 tation of beings, and to the enjoyment of Man. 

 Thus, for example, though the fiflies on the fliores 

 have, in general, Ihining colours, there are, how- 

 ever, feveral fpecies of them invariably of a dark 

 colour. Such are, not only thofe which fwim in- 

 differently, as foles, turbots, &c. but thofe alfo 

 / which inhabit fome parts of the fhores whofe co- 

 lours are lively. Thus the tortoife, which paftures 

 at the bottom of the fea, on green herbs, or which 

 crawls by night over the white fands, there to de- 



pofit 



