82 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OF ANIMALS. CHAP. III. 



latter, from the moment of their birth, are entirely in- 

 dependent of their parents, and capable of providing 

 for themselves. Nothing, therefore, calls for the ex- 

 ertion of the parental feeling; and, as fishes prey chiefly 

 upon one another, and some species are continually at 

 war with others, the lives of all may, as far as we can 

 conjecture, be considered as a constant " scene of hos- 

 tility, violence, and invasion." The great white shark 

 (Squalus Carcharias), and nearly the whole of the ex- 

 tensive family to which it belongs, are particularly dis- 

 tinguished for their rapacity. The wolf-fish (Anarrhicas 

 Lvpus, fig. Ip.), although much smaller, is yet, from 



its ferocity, as terrible to the smaller tribes of fish, as 

 the animal from which it derives its name is to those on 

 land. Its jaws are armed with strong cutting teeth in 

 every direction ; so that it could snap off the finger of 

 an incautious person immediately. The sword-fish is 

 possessed of uncommon fierceness ; and never encoun- 

 ters a whale, without instantly attacking it. 



(102.) Insects exhibit various passions j and these 

 are not only manifested in their actions, but expressed 

 by gestures and noises, no doubt well understood by 

 themselves. The sounds they emit are, indeed, some- 

 times caused by their various motions or employments; 

 but many are the expression of their own peculiar 

 feelings. Thus, numerous beetles, when alarmed, utter 

 a shrill cry, which has been compared to the feeble 

 chirp of birds. The humble bee, if attacked, will give 

 vent to the harsh tones of anger ; and the hive bee, 

 under the sdrne circumstances, emits a shrill and peevish 

 sound, which becomes doubly sharp when it flies at an 

 enemy or intruder. A number of these insects, being 



