272 MULLETS AND MACKEREL. 



" The hearing of such conjugal faithfulness," says the worthy 

 old angler, " will be music to all chaste ears." 



Du Bartas also sings of the congugal faithfulness of the 

 Cantharus, 



" The constant Cantharus 



la ever constant to its faithful spouse, 

 In nuptial duty spending his chaste life, 

 Never loves any but his own dear wife." 



Whilst M. De Lacepede sets forth in very glowing colours the 

 affectionate conduct of the lump fishes, who, according to his 

 account, follow up all their conjugal duties to the very letter : not 

 only by forsaking all others of their species, and attaching them- 

 selves for better and for worse to each other, but also mutually 

 assisting in bringing up their little family in the most exemplary 

 manner it is possible for fishes to do. 



But alas ! it seems that few species of fishes are thus virtuously 

 inclined: for according to the poets, and where are we to look for 

 higher authorities ? Fishes, cold blooded as they seem, are not uni- 

 versally devoid of the frailties which too often mark the lives of 

 those, " within whose veins a warmer current flows ; '* for Du 

 Bartas, who sings such praises, on the exemplary lives of the mul- 

 let, and chaste Cartharus, with equal candour exposes the flagrant 

 conduct of the obscene Sargus, whose lewd habits he justly re- 

 probates, and the truth of which no one ought to doubt : for, 

 saith Izaak, he hath gathered this and other observations out of 

 authors that have been great and industrious searchers into the 

 secrets of nature. Hear then the poet's accusation : 



' The adult'rous Sargus doth not only change 



Wives every day in the deep streams, but strange ! 

 As if the honey of sea love delight 

 Could not suffice his ranging appetite, 

 Goes courting she goats on the grassy shore, 

 Horning their husbands that had horns before," 



Surely a most grave and unheard of charge against a fish ; yet 

 supported not only upon the authority of Du Bartas, but by the 

 joint evidence of both ^Elian and Oppian : both of whom also 

 state that such was the affection of the sargus for goats, that if 

 one of these animals but showed itself on the sea shore, it was 



