2tf2 A HISTORY OF 



supposed that these animals, residing in water, can be possessed o., 

 any power of being affected by them. If they have any perception ot 

 smells, it must be in the same manner as we distinguish by our taste ; 

 and it is probable the olfactory membrane in fish, serves them instead 

 of a distinguishing palate : by this they judge of substances that, from 

 tincturing the water with their vapours, are thus sent to the nostrils 

 of the fish, and no doubt produce some kind of sensation. This most 

 probably must be the use of that organ in those animals, as otherwise 

 there would be the instruments of a sense provided fur them, without 

 any power in them of enjoyment 



As to tasting, they seem to make very little, distinction ; the palate 

 of most fish is hard and bony, and consequently incapable of the pow- 

 ers of relishing different substances. This sense among quadrupeds, 

 who possess it in some degree, arises from the soft pliancy of the or- 

 gan, and the delicacy of the skin which covers the instruments of 

 tasting ; it may be considered, in them, as a more perfect and delicate 

 kind of feeling : in the bony palate of fish, therefore, all powers of dis- 

 tinguishing are utterly taken away ; and we have accordingly often 

 seen these voracious animals swallow the fisherman's plummet instead 

 of the bait. 



Hearing in fishes is found still more imperfect, if it be found at all. 

 Certain it is, that anatomists have not been able to discover, except in 

 the whale kind, the smallest traces of an organ, either within or with- 

 out the head of fishes. It is true, that in the centre of the brain of 

 some fishes are found now and then some little bones, the number and 

 situation of which are entirely accidental. These bones, Mr. Klein 

 has supposed to constitute the organ of hearing ; but if we consider 

 their entire dissimilitude to the bones that serve for hearing in other 

 animals, we shall be of another opinion. The greatest number of 

 fishes are deprived of these bones entirely: some fish have them in 

 small numbers, and others in abundance ; yet neither testify any ex- 

 cellence or defect in hearing. Indeed, of what advantage would this 

 sense be to animals that are incapable of making themselves heard ? 

 they have no voice to communicate with each other, and consequently 

 have no need of an organ for hearing. Mr. Gouan, who kept some 

 gold fishes in a vase, informs us, that whatever noise he made, he 

 could neither disturb nor terrify them ; he halloed as loud as he could, 

 putting a piece of paper between his mouth and the water, to prevent 

 the vibrations from affecting the surface, and the fishes still seemed 

 insensible : but when the paper was removed, and the sound had its 

 full play upon the water, the fishes seemed instantly to feel the change, 

 and shrunk to the bottom. From this we may learn, that fishes are 

 as deaf as they are mute : and that when they seem to hear the call 

 of a whistle or a bell at the edge of a pond, it is rather the vibrations 

 of the sound that affect the water, by which they are excited, than 

 any sounds that they hear. 



Seeing seems to be the sense fishes are possessed of in the greatest 

 degree ; and yet even this seems obscure, if we compare it to that 

 of other animals. The eye, in almost all fish, is covered with the 

 .same transparent skin that covers the rest of the head, and which 

 probably serves to defend it in the water, as they are without eyelids. 

 The globe is more depressed anteriorly, and is furnished behind with 



