337 



LETTER LIV. 



' From icy oceans, where the whales 

 Toss isi foam their lashing tails ; 

 Where the snorting sea-horse shows 

 His ivory teeth in grinning rows." 



MISS AtKIN. 

 BEAR SIR, 



FROM the inhabitants of the earth and the air I shall 

 now attend you in taking a cursory view of the na- 

 tives of the deep, and endeavour to exhibit to your 

 inspection a few of the most striking and interesting 

 objects among those numerous tribes of fishes which 

 constitute the third great division of animated nature. 



Of these, the ocean is the grand receptacle, al- 

 though the rivers and streams produce, or contain 

 great numbers of different kinds; and hence arises 

 tiie general distinction between fresh water and salt 

 water fish. 



Of this numerous and prolific race, Limueus 

 reckons upwards of four hundred different species ; 

 but it is extremely probable that numbers are con- 

 cealed in the vast extent and profundity of the ocean, 

 which have never yet been exposed to human obser- 

 vation. The wants or the luxury of mankind, Lave 

 drawn numbers from their watery abodes, and ma'ie 

 us acquainted with their formation, but their history 

 is, for the most part, little known, their migrations, 

 their pursuits, and their pleasures are, in a great 

 measure, concealed by that element which affords 

 them a residence. As far, however, as we can make 

 probable conjectures on the history of animals so 

 little exposed to our observation, the whole circle of 

 th>ir pursuits is confined to the preservation of their 

 existence and the propagation of their species ; and 

 an incessant desire of food appears to be their domi- 

 neering impulse. Their digestive faculties also seem 

 extraordinary, for their stomachs can soften the most 

 callous substances. The larger of the species subsist- 



