HISTORY OF FISH. 159 



mals. They have different feafons for depofiting 

 their fpawn ; fome, that live in the depths of the 

 ocean, are faid to choofe the winter months } but, in 

 general, thofe with which we are acquainted, choofe 

 the hotteft months in fummer, and prefer fuch water 

 as is fomewhat warmed by the beams of the fun. 

 They then leave the deepeft parts of the ocean, which 

 are the coldeft, and Ihoal round the coafbs, or fwim 

 up the frefh- water rivers, that are warm as they arc 

 comparatively fhallow. When they have depofited 

 their burdens, they then return to their old ftations, 

 and leave their progeny to fhift for themfelves. 



The fpawn continues in its egg-ftate in fome fifh 

 longer than in others, and this in proportion to the 

 animal's fize. In the falmon forinftance, the young 

 animal continues in the egg from the beginning of 

 December till the beginning of April -, the carp con- 

 tinues in the egg not above three weeks; the little 

 gold fifh from China is produced (till quicker. 

 Thefe all, when excluded, at firft efcape by their 

 minutenefs and agility. They rife, fink, and turn 

 much readier than grown fifh ; and they can efcape 

 into very fhallow waters when purfued. But, with 

 all their advantages, fcarce one in a thoufand fur- 

 vives-the numerous perils of its youth. The very 

 male and female that have given them, birth, are 

 equally dangerous and formidable with the reit, 

 forgetting all relation at their departure. 



Such is the general pradlice of thefe heedlefs 

 and hungry creatures : but there are fome in this 

 clafs, living in the v/atcrs, that are pofiefTed of finer 

 organs, and higher fcnfations ; and have all the ten- 

 dernefs of birds and quadrupeds for their young; 

 that nurfe them with conftant care, and protect them 

 from every injury. Of this clafs are the cetaceous 

 tribe, or the fillies of the whale kind. There arc 

 others, though not capable ofnurfing their young, 

 yet that bring them alive into the world, and defend 

 them with courage and activity. Thefe are the car- 

 2 tilaginous 



