iJi OF FISHES IN GENERAL. 



Thus the rapacious fiflies are different from the pre- 

 datory kinds of terreftrial animals ; they are neither few 

 in number, nor folitary in their habits. Their rapacity 

 is not confined to a few fpecies, one region of the lea, or 

 individual efforts. Aimofl the whole order is continually 

 irritated by the cravings of an appetite, the ftrength 

 of which excites them to encounter every danger, and 

 "whicli, by its excels, often dcftroys that life which it was 

 intended to prolong. Innumerable flioals of one fpecies, 

 purfue thofe of another through vaft tra£ls of the ocean, 

 from the vicinity of the pole, down to the equator. It 

 is thus that the cod purfues the ivhiting, which fiies be- 

 fore it, from the banks of Newfoundland, to the foutherre 

 coafts of Spain. 'I bus too the cachalot drives whole 

 armies of herrings from the regions of the north, de- 

 vouring, at every inftant, thoufands in the rear. Hence, 

 the life of every fifh, froin the fmallcfl to the greatefly 

 is but a continued fcene of rapine ; and every quarter of 

 the immenfe ocean, prefents one uniform picture of hofti- 

 lity, violence and invafiou. 



In this unceafing conflift, occafioned by the voracity 

 of the different kinds of fiflies, the finaller tribes mud 

 have, long iince, fallen victims to the avidity of the 

 larger, had not N&ture fkilfully proportioned the means 

 of their efcape, their numbers, and their produ<9:ive 

 powers, to the extent and variety of the dangers, to- 

 which they are continually expofed. To fnpply the 

 conftant wafte, occafioned by their deftruclion in the un- 

 equal combat, they are not only more numerous and 

 prolific, than the larger kinds ; but, by a happy inftin£l: 

 are diredled to feek for food and protedion near the 

 ftiore j where, from the fhallownefs of the water, their 

 dcftroyers are unable to purfue them. Thefe, yeilding 



to 



