OF NATURAL HISTORY, 69 



Fidies are as much diverfified in fize as in figure. The 

 ocean produces the largeft animals which now inhabit this 

 <rlobe. The enormous maffes of the whale and walrus tribes 



o 



far exceed thofe of the elephant, rhinoceros, or river-horfe, 

 the largeft terreftrial animals of which we have any proper 

 knowledge. From the immenfe' bones, however, found in 

 Siberia and many parts of Europe, we are induced to believe, 

 that land animals have formerly exifted whofe fize muft have 

 been much larger than that of the prefent elephant. This 

 animal, whofe fpecies is now fuppofed to be extinguifhed, is 

 known among naturalifts by the denomination of the inmn- 

 mouth. Near the river Ohio, fome prodigious bones and 

 teeth have lately been difcovered, which indicate an animal 

 of incredible magnitude. 



With regard to internal ftru^lure, iifhes like land-animals, 

 are furnifhed with a back-bone and ribs, which run from the 

 head to the tail. To thefe, the bones of the head, and the 

 fins, all the mufcles and inftruments of motion, are attached. 



The mouths of moft fifhes are furnifhed with teeth ; but 

 in fome, as the mullet, fturgeon, &c. the teeth are wanting. 

 In fome, the teeth are iituated on the jaw-bones, in 

 others, on the tongue and palate. The teeth of fiflies 

 are principally defigned for laying hold of and detaining 

 their prey, which they generally fwallow entire. For this 

 purpofe, the teeth are commonly ferrated, or bent inward, 

 like tenter-hooks. By this flrudure, fmall fifhes are ealily 

 forced downwards, and their return is at the fame time 

 prevented. 



In fifhes, the organ of fmelling is large ; and they have a 

 power of contra<StIng and dilating, at pleafure, the entry into 

 their nofe. 



It was formerly doubted whether fiflies were endowed 

 with the fenfe of hearing. But that doubt is now fully y^- 



