228 SENSE OF TASTE IN FISH. 



in order to that of hearing, and greatly inferior 

 to that of sight. 



Taste is at all times, and in all animals, a 

 modification of common sensation, or the simple 

 sense of touch. Its seat in fishes is probably the 

 whole interior of the mouth, the tongue of these 

 creatures being, as is well known, very small and 

 very imperfectly developed. The observations 

 which we have previously made with regard to 

 sensation and to the vital organs of that faculty 

 the hemispheres are applicable here. We 

 cannot give the fish credit for any refinement of 

 taste, and taste, with touch and feeling, must be 

 content to occupy the lowest rank of the nervous 

 senses. 



It is impossible to regard the distribution of 

 the higher faculties of the fish, which is here 

 portrayed, without a sentiment of admiration of 

 the wisdom and goodness of Providence, that has 

 thus restricted the sensations of a large group of 

 creatures, living in an element of danger, and 

 destined to be the prey of the more powerful of 

 their own kind as well as of the other classes of 

 animals. They have the eye to see, the ear to 

 apprehend, and the muscular system to escape 

 danger. They have also a power of smell to dis- 

 criminate the qualities of the stream which it is 

 their pleasure to seek; while the absence of 

 nicety of taste renders them unheedful of the 



