84 FISHES AND FISHING. 



in many respects that of animals which inhabit the 

 B urface of the earth ; but the organic formation of the 

 different species of fish varies materially. Their nerves 

 are easily traced, and in some, the division of the audi 

 tory nerves follow a similar arrangement as in man, 

 and probably with the same wise purpose ; the one 

 division being that of motion chiefly, the other that 

 of sensation. Take, for instance, the carp ; the bones, 

 or ossicula representing, or in place of those of the ear 

 of man, are lodged in a cavity divided into two parts 

 by a partition, where they float in a semi-gelatinous 

 clear fluid ; and in each of these cavities is found 

 two ramifications of the auditory nerves, which are 

 expanded over the respective bones, two in number, on 

 each side. There are also three semi-circular canals 

 on each side ; these are filled with a semi-gelatinous 

 fluid, and in them very minute fibres of the sensitive 

 portion of the auditory nerve float, as in the human 

 ear ; and the base, or sensorium of those nerves, is 

 in the brain. Other fish have similar formation of 

 the organ of hearing, more or less perfect, appor 

 tioned, no doubt, by the All- wise Creator, to their 

 habits, modes of life, and nature of their food. The 

 bones belonging to the organ of hearing in fish, like 

 the bones of their bodies, are more solid, and larger in 

 those inhabiting the sea, than those living in fresh 

 water ; and the ossicula, of which I have a little col- 



