l6 OF FISHES IN GENERAL. 



ready been reviewed in the preceding part of this work. 

 In every thing lefembling intelligence, their inferiority 

 is equally llriking. They are incapable of attachment, 

 or of acquiring any new habits by domeftication and inter- 

 courfe with man. Some faint traces, indeed, of memory 

 they difcover, if it be true, as is alleged, that they re- 

 gularly return to the place where they have been fed * ; 

 but even this fmall (hare of recolleftion, can hardly be al- 

 lowed them without hefitation ; for they may be aflem- 

 bled there, merely by feeing one of their number pick 

 up the remains of the food which they had formerly left. 

 It forms no exception to the general conclufion, that all 

 their powers and faculties are of a fubordinate kind, fuit- 

 ed to that humble and paffive esiftence which Nature 

 has afTigned them. To prefer ve exiftence, and to con- 

 tinue It to poflerlty, fill up the whole circle of their pur- 

 fults and enjoyments, to which they are impelled rather 

 by neceffity than choice. While they feem mechanically 

 excited to every fruition, their fenfes are incapable of 

 making any diftincllons ; and they are hurried forward 

 in purfult of whatever they can fwallow, conquer, or en- 

 joy f. 



* Willoizb. Hift. Pifcium, cap. iil. 



t Goldfmith, Nat. H:ft. vol. vi. p. id^. 



