88 THE PHILOSOPHY 



their food in a horizontal pofition, and can move their 

 bodies either upward or downward, a long neck would necef- 

 farily have impeded their motion through the water. 



The form of fiflies is extremely various ; and, if their 

 hiftory were fufficiently known, the connection between 

 their ftrudture and their manners would be equally apparent 

 as in the other tribes with which we are better acquainted. 

 Some fiflies are long and cylindrical, as the fea-ferpent, and 

 all the eel-fhaped fpecies. The eel -kind, from their figure, 

 are enabled to trail their bodies along the bottom, and to 

 conceal themfelves below the fand or mud. Others are lefs 

 cylindrical, and proportionally fliorter, as the mackrel, the 

 cod, the herring, the falmon, &c. Thefe, from the num- 

 ber and pofition of their fins, as well as from the fhape of 

 their bodies, are defl:ined for quicker motion, and for trav- 

 elling to great diftances in queft of food, or for fpawning in 

 fhoals or in rivers. Others, as the flounder, the flcate, the 

 turbet, torpedo, &c. are broad and comprefi^ed. Thefe, like 

 the eel-kind, frequent muddy bottoms. Others are triangu^ 

 iar, quadrangular, round, &c. Befide thofe which approach 

 to regular figures, the variations and compofitions are fo nu- 

 merous, that the forms of fifties are much more diverfified 

 than thofe of quadrupeds or birds. To defend themfelves 

 againfl: their enemies, many fiflies are armed with fi:rong, 

 iharp fpines or prickles. For the fame purpofe, and like- 

 wife for wounding or killing their prey, fome have a large 

 horn on their front, and others a fword, or rather a faw, 

 which are tremendous weapons. The more timid and de- 

 fencelefs tribes are endowed with the faculty of rapid mo- 

 tion j and fome of them have fins fo large and flexible, that, 

 when hard purfued, they are enabled to leave their natural 

 element, to dart through the air to confiderable diftance*;, 

 and difappoint th^ defigns of their enemies. 



