66 THE OCEAN. 



is built upon herring-bones :" and though, from the 

 superiority of our internal resources, we are not 

 compelled to give so undivided an attention to the 

 scaly tenants of the deep as they have been, we may 

 still assert, that on a similar base stand many of our 

 important seaport towns. Let us then examine these 

 finny tribes, which come so strongly recommended to 

 our notice, and see if we cannot discover in their 

 formation and economy evidences of that all-per- 

 {^ading wisdom and goodness of which we have had 

 occasion before to speak. 



An intelligent observer can scarcely fail to be 

 struck with the perfect adaptation of fishes for swift 

 motion through a dense fluid. The form most suited 

 for rapid progression is that of a spindle, swelling in 

 the middle and tapering to the extremities : and this 

 is the general form of fishes. The variations from this 

 normal shape are comparatively rare, and consist 

 chiefly in the lengthening of the body, as in the Eels, 

 or in the widening of its diameter perpendicularly, as 

 in the Dory, and the Flat-fishes, or horizontally, as in 

 the Skates. But in these cases, and similar ones, the 

 exceptions are made to suit variations in habit, for 

 the Skates and Flat-fishes are intended not for rapid 

 swimming, but for lying flat upon the bottom ; while 

 the worm-like form of the Eels enables them to insi- 

 nuate themselves with facility through the mud and 

 ooze, or even to leave the water and crawl upon the 

 shore. Still, however, in both, the usual form is to be 

 traced, the central part of the body being the widest 

 and the extremities being pointed. The facility of 

 motion possessed by fishes is partly dependent on 



