OF FISHES IN GENERAL, 33 



plate them in a more favourable point of view, and tliat 

 is, in the extraordinary period of time during which they 

 poffefs the humble exiftence which Nature has ailigned 

 them, 'J heir longevity is far fuperior to that of other 

 animals *. We have already feen what ample provi- 

 fion is made for fupplying them with food, by mul- 

 tiplying the inhabitants of tlie fea : They are, therefore, 

 in little danger of perifhing from want ; and there is rea- 

 fon to believe, that they are, in a great meafure, ex- 

 empted from difeafes. 



Moll of the diforders incident to mankind arife fi-om 

 the changes and alterations incident to the atmofphere ; 

 but iiihes refide in an element but little fubjeft to change; 

 theirs is an uniform exillence ; their movements are 

 without eirort, and their life without labour. Their 

 bones alfo, which are united by cartiinges, admit of in- 

 definite extenfion ; and the different lizes of animals of 

 the fame kind among fillies is very various. They ilill 

 keep growing ; their bodies, inltead of fuffering the ri- 

 gidity of age, whicii is the caufe of natural decay in land 

 animals, ftill continue increafing v<^ith frefti fupplies ; and 

 as the body grows, the conduits of life furnilh their llores 

 in greater abundance. How long a fi(h, that feems to have 

 fcarce any bounds put to its growth, continues to live, is 

 not afcertained f . 



Some fpecies of the German carp have been known to 

 live an hundred years f ; thoie fpecies, hov.'cvei', with 

 which we are beft acquainted, feem not to enjoy fo 

 great a degree of longevity. The falmon, we have re- 

 marked, takes only fix years to reach its full fize ; if we 



Vol. II. E allo-.v 



* Gffner de pifcibus. f Fidt Bacon's works, 



