Nature thus playing pioneer for our benefit (if we choose to avail ourselves of it) 

 by shewing us that, as the impregnated ova may remain long productive, deprived 

 of the element essential to after life, how easy is the transmission of spawn, even 

 from remote countries ; thus making the replenishment of our rivers, or the intro- 

 duction into them of new kinds, a matter of great facility. 



Perhaps the ugliest fish we have is the bullhead ; but it is said to possess a 

 trait which would redeem the very personification of the hideous — care for its 

 young. Unlike other fishes, it certainly hovers about its spawn for a long time 

 after having deposited it, as if reluctant to abandon it to the mercy of unknown 

 enemies. It is found in most of our streams, but particularly abundant in the 

 Monnow, Dwyr, and their small tributaries. 



The six species of sticklebacks (gasterosteus) contribute three to this county. 

 It is the smallest fish in our waters, and is chiefly remarkable as being the most 

 pugnacious. Each species is furnished with spines on the back, varying in num- 

 ber. These they use, as cattle do their horns ; and an adversary is not unfre- 

 quently killed by them. 



Of the pike genus (esocidae) we have only one species— the most voracious of 

 fresh-water animals ; around whose broad, obtuse muzzle, however, a glory has 

 been thrown by Shakspeare ; who paints the "dozen white lucies" (the heraldic 

 name of the pike) as part of the armorial bearings of the immortal Justice 

 Shallow. 



The pike grows to a larger size than any of our pure river fishes, I have 

 repeatedly seen them, from the neighbourhood of Neufchatel, in Switzerland, 

 between 25 and 40 pounds. Gesner relates it as a fact, that "in 1497, a pike was 

 taken at Hailburn, in Suabia, with a brass ring attached to it, stating it was put 

 there in 1230 ; it was therefore 267 years old ; its weight 350 pounds." 



Whether this be fable or fact, certain it is that many of the races live to a 

 great age, and attain a great size. Does not this go far towards showing what I 

 have long been inclined to believe— namely, that fish continue to grow till they 

 die? A. fact, if it be one, well worthy of establishment ; as affording good evi- 

 dence, and elucidating the mystery, of the few diseases that afflict them ; for it is 

 the gradual decay, consequent on a cessation of growth, which forms a large item 

 in the history of disease. 



Although fish is more difficult of observation than land animals— which, at 

 almost any time, and under a great diversity of circumstances, we have oppor- 

 tunities for studying — yet, I think, we may reasonably conclude that the diseases 

 of fish are few. It is a rare occurrence to find one out of condition, except from 

 spawning. If they suffered the deterioration of age— inevitably following com- 

 pletion of maturity— we should as inevitably meet with numerous specimens 

 labouring under the signs indissolubly united to the stage when growth had long 

 ceased. As far as I am aware, this is not the case. What then can we infer, but 

 that they are exempt from the visible decline, inseparable from having passed the 



