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point of perfection : and, therefore, that they increase in size as long as they live? 

 There are even proverbs in support of the healthiness of fish ; and though it by no 

 means follows that a common proverb must be true, there is usually some founda- 

 tion for it. We say in England, "as sound as a roach," and the Italians, " fe sano 

 come il pesce "—as healthy as a fish. 



It is said that a pike will swallow a fish half its own weight, and I have reason 

 to believe this. But the stories told of his voracity from gorging a tailor's 

 thimble to fivstening on the lip of a cow while drinking at the river, are endless. 



It is curious to note the different values placed on the same article by different 

 generations. In the reign of Edward 1st pike were dearer than salmon, and ten 

 times dearer than turbot. In Henry 8th's reign, a small one sold for more than 

 a fat capon ; and a large one for the price of two house lambs in February. In 

 these degenerate days, I am afraid neither fishmonger nor butcher can be per- 

 suaded to give, the one, ten turbots for a pike, and the other, a couple of lambs. 

 As taste is often subservient to fashion— and as the dear must, of course, be the 

 fashionable— probably taste had no more to do with the reputation pike formerly 

 enjoyed than it has for the modern preference of house lamb. 



The quality of fish depends greatly on food. The pike of the Medway, at 

 those seasons when feeding on smelts, are in the highest condition, and of remark- 

 ably fine flavour. Nor is this at all extraordinary. The honey, from bees which 

 coUect it from particular flowers, is peculiarly flavoured. The partridge which 

 lives among heath, more nearly resembles the grouse than the partridge of other 

 localities. And this is natural. Since food replenishes evaporation, it is clear 

 that food must impregnate the substance with its own appropriate characteristics. 



Of the sturgeons (accipenser) there is one— the common sturgeon (A. sturio), 

 which pays an occasional visit to the Wye ; and a personal struggle hiis several 

 times ensued betwen fish and biped-not always to the glory of the latter-for 

 they are known to reach more than four cwt. This is the largest fish that seeks 

 fresh water for the purpose of spawning. In spite of its bulk, and alliance with 

 the shark, it is perfectly harmless ; and exhibits in its structure a very low degree 

 of organization. Its skeleton is cartilaginous, and not bony ; and the tail hjis one 

 lobe much shorter than the other. Its flesh is tolerably good ; and it is particu- 

 lariy valuable for the eggs, which are manufactured into caviare ; and for its air- 

 bladder, from which the finest isinglass is prepared. 



The flat fishes (pleuronectidae), furnish one member of their family to Here- 

 fordshire-the flounder. This is a very remarkable genus-whereas all other 

 fishes swim on the belly, the flat fishes swim on their side. In the vertebrate 

 kingdom it is unique on another account— its want of symmetry in the head ; both 

 eyes are placed on one side ; and an animal, to be symmetrical, must possess the 

 two sides counterparts of each other, supposing it to be vertically divided exactly 

 in the middle. 



Those who have been deceived by its changes into the belief that the parr was 

 not the young salmon, and who have thought, from the manv variations 



