EXPLANATION OF THE TLATES. IxxVU 



We fhould have feen their categories, fo wonderfully va- 

 ried, of a configuration perfedlly adapted to the different 

 fîtes of the Ocean : fome, cut out into long fword-blades, 

 like the African fifh which bears that name, take pleafure 

 in penetrating into the narrowed crevices of rocks, and in 

 ftemming the moft rapid currents : others, equally flat, are 

 cut into a circular form, with two long horns, like fail- 

 yards, ifluing from the head, and inverted behind, to ferve 

 them as a helm, as the filvery moon-fifli of the Antilles. 

 Thefe moon-fifh are continually fporting among the bil- 

 lows which break upon the rocks, without a fingle inftance 

 being known of any one thrown afhore. Other fiflies of a 

 triangular fhape, and cut into the form of the cheft whofe 

 name they bear, advance into the very middle of the (helfy 

 ground upon the fhore, where there is fcarcely any water, 

 and difplay, in the bofom of the dufky rocks their blue 

 fliining robes, befpangled with flars of gold. 



While fome, perpetually reftlefs, fcratch and fcrape into 

 every chink along the beach, in queft of their prey ; others, 

 in perfeél tranquility refpedling their provifion, remain 

 immoveable, on a fixed ftation, expelling it. Some, in- 

 crufted in lumpifh habitations of flone, pave the ground of 

 the fhores, as the hehnet, the Iambi, and the thu'iUe ; others, 

 attached by threads to little pebbles, ride at anchor at the 

 mouths of rivers, as the mufcle ; others glew themfelves to 

 each other, as the oyfter; others fix themfelves as the heads 

 of nails to the rocks, to which they cling by fudlion, as the 

 limp'it ; others bury themfelves in the fand, as the harpe, the 

 cockle, the knife-handle ; and moft of the fhell-fifh whofe 

 exterior garments are clear and brilliant \ others, as the 

 lobfter and the crab, armed with bucklers and corflets, lie 



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