14 «;^ BRITISH ANGLER. 



SECT. III. 



General Ohfervativns on the Nature of Fijh, ^ 



HAVING thus endeavoured to vindi- 

 cate the Reputation of Angling, and in 

 particular to fliew how very fuitable it is to a 

 contemplative Perfon. I proceed todiredt the 

 Gentleman Angler in the mofl natural 

 Road of Meditation, by pointing out to him 

 fo much of the Properties and Mechanifm of 

 Fifh in general, as may enable him to confider 

 them with Underftanding, and to form judi- 

 cioufly fuch Obfervations as may occur to him 

 in the Purfuit of his Diverfion. Every Thing 

 I fhall offer will be the Refuk of Experience, 

 and what has been communicated by the mofl 

 diligent Infpecflors into Nature. The Points I 

 ihali here chiefly infill on, are, The Element 

 peculiar to Fifh ; their Clothing^ their Num- 

 bers •, the regular Pafifage of fome Species ; 

 their Wars, and the Means of their Preferva- 

 tion •, their Fecundity, and thePurpofc of it •, 

 their Food \ the natural Caufe of their Swim- 

 ming, with the peculiar Ufe of their Tails, 

 Fins, Bags of Air, and Gills \ their other 

 Parts j their Cunning -, their Senfations, and 

 the extraordinary Share of Life in fome Kinds 

 of them. 



The Univerfe abounds with an infinite 

 Variety of living Creatures, Some are In- 

 habitants 



