INTRODUCTION. i^ 



Having mentioned the Wars of the Cods 

 and Whitings, I muft take Notice of one Cir- 

 cumftance, which reigns thro' all the Species 

 of Fifh. TheMufcle lies in Ambufcade within 

 the Mud ; there flie opens her Shells, and 

 when a fmall unwary Crab prefumes to creep 

 in, llie claps them clofe together in an Inftanr, 

 and fecures her Prey. The Oyfter takes the 

 fame Meafures to enfnare fuch little Fifh as 

 are not on their Guard. The Sole, and moft 

 Flat-fifh lie conceal'd likewife in the Soil, to 

 the Colour whereof their Backs bear a near 

 Refemblance, and obferve, with the utmofl 

 CircumfpecStion, where the Females of large 

 Fifli fink commodious Lodgments for their 

 Spawn, whereon the Males afterwards diffufe 

 their impregnating Fluid, to render fuch Spawn 

 prolific. The Sole fprings inilantaneoufly 

 from her Ambufcade, and regales herfeJfwith 

 this delicious Food, which pampers her up, 

 and gives her an exquifite Flavour. The 

 fmall Soles, in their Turn, are equally an 

 agreeable Collation to the large Crabs ; and 

 when we open one of thefe latter, we feldom 

 fail of finding a Sole or two in the Belly of ir. 

 You may form an Idea of the other Species by 

 this. All the feveral ClafiTes of living Crea- 

 tures that breed in the Water, from the big- 

 geft to the leaft, are conflantly in Action, and 

 at War with each other. 'Tis one continued 

 Series of Artifices, Flights, Evafions, and 

 open Violence. They pillage and devour one 

 another, without Remorfe or Moderation. 



But 



