CARTILAGINOUS FLAT FISH. 311 



it has no muscles formed for particular exertion or use ; 

 yet such is the indefinable effects of its touch, that the 

 hand which comes in contact with its body instantly 

 becomes listless and numb. This numbness extends 

 far beyond the part affected ; for the shoulder partici- 

 pates in the hand's pain : in short, it appears like a 

 sudden vapour, which, passing through the pores in a 

 moment, absolutely penetrates to the very springs of 

 life. Kempfer tells us, that the shock is diminished if 

 the breath is suspended whilst the animal is touched ; 

 but I believe those who place their security in this in- 

 formation will find they have been most cruelly de- 

 ceived. 



There are other fish which possess this benumbing 

 quality, that are chiefly found along the African coast, 

 which Moore and Atkins describe as resembling the 

 mackarel, except that the head is dispropoxtioned to 

 the size. 



CHAP. V. 

 CARTILAGINOUS FISH. 



OF THE LAMPREY, THE STURGEON, AND THEIR 

 VARIETIES. 



XHE lamprey, amongst us, is differently estimated, 

 according to the season in which it has been caught, or 

 the place where it has been fed ; but those which leave 

 the sea, to deposit their spawn in fresh waters, are al- 

 lowed to be those which deserve to be the most highly 

 prized ; whilst those that wholly reside in rivers, with- 

 out making any voyages to the briny deep, entirely lose 

 their delicate flavour, and become both flabby and in- 

 sipid food. 



£4 



