OF FISH IN GENERAL. 27 



Remarkable for longevity. 



both. The stomach is of an oblong figure ; 

 which, in large fish, is commonly found to con- 

 tain some larger ones, still retaining their natural 

 form, but when touched, melting down into a 

 jelly. From this, and the great quantity of 

 liquors poured into their stomachs, it is con- 

 cluded that digestion is solely brought about in 

 them by the power of a menstruum, and that no 

 trituration happens here. The guts are very 

 short. 



No animals are more remarkable for longevity 

 than fish, which is philosophically accounted for 

 by Bacon, who observes, that " most of the 

 disorders incident to mankind arise from the 

 changes and alterations in tbe atmosphere; but 

 fish reside in an element little subject to change; 

 theirs is an uniform existence; their movements 

 are without effort, and their life without labour. 

 Their bones also, which are united by cartilages, 

 admit of indefinite extension; and the different 

 sizes of animals of the same kind, among fish, 

 are very various. They still keep growing ; their 

 bodies, instead of suffering the rigidity of age, 

 which is the cause of the natural decay of land 

 animals, still continue increasing with fresh sup- 

 plies; and as the body grows, the conduits of 

 life furnish their stores in greater abundance. 

 How long a fish that seems to have scarce any 

 bounds put to its growth, continues to live, is 

 not ascertained: perhaps, the life of a man would 

 not be sufficient to measure that of the smallest." 

 D 2 



