130 History of Nature. [BoOK IX. 



also, although naturally belonging to marshy Grounds, yet 

 do not attain their perfect Growth without Rain; and so 

 wherever Fish are kept continually in the same Water, un- 

 less Rain fall, they will die. All Fishes feel the Cold of a sharp 

 Winter ; but those especially which are thought to have a 

 Stone in their Head ; as the Lupus, 1 the Chromis, 2 Scienae, 3 

 and Pagri. 4 When there have been sharp Winters, many 

 are taken blind. And, therefore, during those Months they 

 lie hid in Caverns, as we have said some Land Creatures 

 do. For the most Part the Hippurus 5 and Coracinus 6 are 

 never caught in Winter ; except a few on particular Days : 

 and always of the same Sort. Also the Mursena, the Or- 

 phus, 7 Conger, 8 Perca, 9 and all Fishes that keep near Rocks. 

 It is said that the Torpedo, 10 Psitta, 11 and Solea, 12 conceal 



1 Labrax lupus. Cuv. The Bass. See B. xxxii. c. 2. Wern. Club. 



2 Cuvier says it is an unascertained fish with a Greek name ; but, on 

 the contrary, Ray (" Synopsis," p. 141) says that it is common in the 

 Mediterranean Sea. Wern. Club. 



3 Scicena umbra. Cuv. Wern. Club. 



4 Sparus pagrus. LINN. Pagrus vulgaris. Cuv. The Becker. 

 Wern. Club. 



6 Coryphcena hippurus. LINN. But it is probable that the Hippuris 

 of Oppian is our Stone Bass, Polyprium cernium. Cuv. Wern. Club. 



6 Cuvier says, it is his Chromis vulgaris^ the Sparus chromis of Linn. 

 Wern. Club. 



7 This name has been referred to several very different fishes ; and 

 especially to the Rudd, Cyprinus Erythrophthalmus of Linn., Leuciscus E. 

 of Cuvier. 



But the ancient authors represent it as a sea-fish ; though even then 

 their accounts apply to a variety of species. The true Orphus veterum of 

 Rondeletius is not the Pagrus Or/us of Cuvier ; and the only represent- 

 ation to which reference can be made occurs in a paper on the subject by 

 the Editor of this work in the first volume of the " Zoologist," p. 81. The 

 great rarity of this fish appears to have led to the errors of naturalists 

 concerning it. Wern. Club. 



8 Murcena Conger. LINN. Conger vulgaris. Cuv. Wern. Club. 



9 Perca marina of Linn., and Ray, who says it is common at Venice. 

 Wern. Club. 



10 See also B. xxxii. c. 1. Raia Torpedo, Linn.; which is now divided 

 into two or three distinct species. Wern. Club. 



11 Probably the Dab, Platessa limanda; but confounded with the 

 Plaice and Flounder. Wern. Club. 



12 Solea vulgaris. Cuv. The Sole, Wern. Club. 



