FISHES. 225 



and weaker animals of their own class, One of our justly 

 popular poets lias said: - 



" Even tiger fell, and sullen bear, 

 Their likeness and their lineage spare ; 

 Man only mars kind Nature's plan, 

 And turns the fierce pursuit on man." 



ROKEBY, canto iii. stanza 1. 



Such a remark is altogether inapplicable to the voracious 

 trihes of which we at present treat, and we would refer to it 

 here only to show how much more completely " kind Nature's 

 plan" is carried out by the present arrangement. As it is, 

 " the multitudinous seas" are peopled with their finny tribes; 

 and we cannot doubt that the exercise of their various powers 

 in the pursuit of prey, the escape from danger, and all else 

 that is essential to their well-being, is fraught with happiness. 

 They have no apprehension of death; and when it does come 

 by the jaws of a more powerful assailant, the pain is brief and 

 transient. The pleasure has extended throughout the duration 

 of life; the final pang endures but for a moment. Great, 

 therefore, in the aggregate, is the amount of happiness secured 

 under these wise and bountiful dispensations of Providence. 

 Did fishes not constitute the food of fishes, how few com- 

 paratively could exist ! The naturalist consequently beholds, 

 in all the havoc and destruction of life by carnivorous animals, 

 a merciful dispensation, and is prepared to give his assent to 

 the reflections of the poet: 



" Harsh seems the ordinance, that life by life 

 Should be sustained; and yet when all must die, 

 And be like water spilt upon the ground, 

 Which none can gather up, the speediest fate, 

 Though violent and terrible, is best. 



" 'Twas wisdom, mercy, goodness, that ordained 

 Life in such infinite profusion. Death 

 So sure, so prompt, so multiform." 



MONTGOMERY'S " PELICAN ISLAND." 



To those who have never considered the omnivorous appe- 

 tite of fishes, the examination of the stomach of a few of 

 those which are most commonly used as food, will furnish very 

 sufficient evidence of their habits. Perhaps the fact cannot 

 be better exemplified than by quoting a passage from a 



