FISHES. 263 



denly shot o\it of the Epibulus and of Coricus, the terrible commo- 

 tion excited by the Torpedo and Gymnotus, have no other object. 

 The variations of temperature themselves affect fishes veiy little, not 

 only because tliese changes are more limited in the element wnere 

 they reside than in our atmosphere, but also because their bodies, 

 assuming the surrounding temperature, the contrast between the 

 external cold and interior heat is hardly felt by them. Thus, the 

 seasons are by no means, in respect of the migrations or epochs of 

 propagation, such strict regulators of the fishes as they are of the 

 quadrupeds, and especially of the birds. Many fishes spawn in win- 

 ter ; towards autumn the herrings come down from the north to shed 

 their milts and roes on our coasts ; it is in the north that this class 

 exhibits the most astonishing fecundity, if not in the variety of the 

 species, certainly in the number of the individuals composing each 

 species, and in no other part of the sea, besides, do we find any thing 

 even approaching to the infinite myriads of cod and herrings which 

 periodically attract entire fleets into the North Seas. 



The nuptial intercourse of the fishes is as frigid as they are them- 

 selves ; it involves only an individual want. Some species hardly 

 ever come together mutually to enjoy pleasure ; in other species the 

 males pursue the roe rather than the female ; and they are reduced to 

 the condition of fecundating the roes of the mother of whose they are 

 utterly ignorant, and the mature state of whose productions they 

 shall never become acquainted with. The pleasures, therefore, of a 

 mother are denied to a great number of the species ; several merely 

 carry the roe for a time, and, with some exceptions, the fishes may be 

 described as having no nest to build, no young to support and protect; 

 m a word, throughovit the whole details of their economy a complete 

 contrast with the birds is presented by the fishes. 



The being of the air beholds before him a magnificent horizon ; his 

 accute organ of hearing enables him to appreciate sounds and intona- 

 tions, and, by his voice, he may produce them again ; should his bill be 

 hard, and should his body be clothed in down for his protection, when 

 he ascends to the elevated regions of the atmosphere, then shall he 

 find in his feet the very perfection of the most delicate sense of touch. 

 In the enjoyment of all the sweets of conjugal and paternal affection, 

 he courageously fulfils the duties which these characters impose on 

 him, he defends himself and his offspring ; a wonderful art presides 

 over the construction of the nest, and when the proper time arrives, 

 they labour together without interruption. During the interval, 

 whilst the mother is hatching the eggs with such admirable constancy, 

 the father, impassioned of his lover and become a tender husband, 

 beguiles the fatigue of his companion with his minstrelsy. Even in 

 a state of slavery the bird attaches himself to his master ; submitting 

 to him and executing under his orders the most dexterous and deli- 

 cate exploits, he hunts like a dog, and suits his voice to the highest 

 airs, nor is it without a feeling of pain almost that we deny to him 

 the possession of reason. 



The inhabitant of the waters, on the contrary, has no attachment ; 

 without language, without affection, he knows not what it is to be a 

 husband and a father, or what it is to have a home ; when danger 



