88 HOW PLINY AND ARTS TO TLE 



were hardly believed till confirmed by Jenner. 

 How curious are his observations on the manner 

 of breeding of fish of the cartilaginous family I 

 How well selected the circumstances which 

 he adduces in presumptive evidence that fish 

 hear, and smell, and sleep ; I say presumptive, 

 because I do not hold them to be conclusive. 

 I agree with you in your opinion respecting 

 the Koman, as very inferior to his great pre- 

 cursor and original ; but even from his pages, 

 some knowledge may be gleaned. 



AMICUS. I stand rebuked for the hasty 

 opinion I first offered, that, respecting the 

 Stagyrite, and thank you for what you have 

 said. I see my mistake ; I overlooked the vast 

 chasm of centuries between the early and ad- 

 vanced stage of natural science, and incon- 

 siderately expected in the one what could 

 only be attained in the other. When I next 

 refer to Aristotle, it will be with due respect, 

 and in search of particulars, his miscellaneous 

 observations. 



PISCATOR. Pray do so. You will find it 

 a warehouse in which there are many rare and 

 valuable articles, as well as many crude and 

 imperfect ones. To read either with benefit 



