12 0? FISHES m GENERAL. 



from the immediate contaft of the furrounding fluid, tW 

 greater part of fiflies are provided with a ftrong covering 

 of fcales, wliich flill more powerfully protedls them from 

 injury ; and, beneath this, they are fupplied with an oily 

 matter, which preferves the body in warmth and vi- 

 gour. 



When, however, we examine the fenfes, and other 

 faculties, of this part of the animal kingdom, we find 

 it in a rank greatly below the other tribes ; and that 

 Nature having intended them for lefs perfe6t beings, 

 has been fparing in her endowments. The brain, the feat 

 6f fenfation, is much fmaller in fiflies, than in other ani- 

 mals ; and, probably, gives off a fmaller number of nerves 

 to the different parts of the body *, Thofe ftrong tegu- 

 ments, with whicli we have obferved that their bodies 

 are covered, mufl greatly obftruft their fenfe of touch, 

 which, in all probability, is far from being delicate. 



The external organs of fmell, and the nerves which 

 fupply them, are perceptible in the greater part of 

 fifhes ; and, even where the apparatus is not difcern- 

 able without, the formation of the bones within, plainly 

 indicate an apparatus for this purpofe. But as air is 

 the only medium we know for the diftribution of od-^urs, 

 it cannot be fuppofed, that thefe animals,' reading in wa- 

 ter, can be pofTeiied of any capacity of being affected by 

 them. If thv-y have any perception of fmells, it rr!;ill be 

 in the fame manner as we diftinguifli by our tafte ; and 

 it is probable, that the oifaclory membrane in fiihes, 

 ferves them inftead of a diflinguiraing palate: Ry tins' 

 they judge of fubilances, whofe vapours, having tinc- 

 tured the water, are fent to tlieif nolhlls, and, no doubt, 



produce 



* V/illifius de anat. cerebri apud WUlonbiiim. 



