BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 153 



friends in the fine gardens of the Archbishop of 

 Saltzburg, the gardener conducted them to a very 

 clear piece of water, in which no fish were at first to 

 be seen, but that the man had no sooner rung a little 

 bell, than a multitude of trout came together from all 

 parts of the pond, to take what he had brought them, 

 and disappeared as soon as they had eaten it up. 



The Lamprey makes holes in the gravelly bottom 

 of the river previous to depositing her ova. The Sea- 

 Dog, in a storm, is said to conceal her young under 

 her belly. A curious circumstance has been observed 

 relative to the young Sharks, that when pursued, 

 they will, on the appearance of danger, take refuge 

 in the belly of the mother. It is asserted by Pliny, 

 that the Fishing- Frog hides itself in muddy water, 

 and makes use of a singular artifice to secure her 

 prey. The Ink Fish seems to be well informed of 

 the use she ought to make of her natural bottle, and 

 when pursued, discharges its contents in the way of 

 her foe. The aborescent Star fish, like the Spider, 

 spreads out her net in order to entangle her unwary 

 victim. And the little Thresher, in order to get the 

 better of his formidable antagonist, tumbles neck 

 over heels, and falls down with astonishing force on 

 the back of the Whale, while his ally, the Sword- 

 fish, wounds him from underneath. 



TJic Uses of Fishes. 



Although it has been said, that to preserve their 

 own existence, and to continue it to their posterity, 



