SENSE OP TASTE IN FISH. 297 



fication of common sensation, or the simple sense of 

 touch. Its seat in fishes is probably the whole 

 interior of the mouth, the tongue of these crea- 

 tures, being as is well known, very small and very 

 imperfectly developed. The observations which 

 we have previously made with regard to sensation 

 and to the vital organs of that faculty the hemi- 

 spheres, are applicable here. We cannot give the 

 fish credit for any refinement of taste, and taste, 

 with touch and feeling, must be content to occupy 

 the lowest rank of the nervous senses. 



It is impossible to regard the distribution of 

 the higher faculties of the fish, which is here 

 pourtrayed, without a sentiment of admiration of 

 the wisdom and goodness of Providence, that has 

 thus restricted the sensations of a large group of 

 creatures, living in an element of danger and 

 destined to be the prey of the more powerful of 

 their own kind as well as of the other classes of 

 animals. They have the eye to see, the ear to 

 apprehend, and the muscular system to escape 

 danger. They have also a power of smell to dis- 

 criminate the qualities of the stream which it is 

 their pleasure to seek. While the absence of 

 nicety of taste renders them unheedful of the 

 savour of their food, and an imperfect sensation 

 saves them from the pangs which they otherwise 

 must feel in the grasp of their destroyer. 



The angler who studies these observations, and 



