SPINOUS FISHES. 25^ 



'The firfl; peculiarity that ftrikes us, with regard to the 

 ilfties of the fpinous order, is the greatnefs of their num- 

 bers. Not only are the individuals of each family more 

 numerous ; but the variety of the kinds is ajfo far greater. 

 Upwards of four hundred different fpecies of fpinous 

 fifhes are already known and defcn'bed ; while the ceta- 

 ceous and cartilaginous orders, when taken together, 

 hardly amount to a fifth of that number *. The former, 

 are in general inferior in fize ; and it is conformable to a 

 law, which obtains in every department of the animal 

 kingdom, that the fmaller the productions of nature are, 

 the more uumerous and diverfified in form does (he yield 

 them. A very valuable purpofe in the econom.y of pro- 

 vidence, is gained by this conftitution of the animal 

 kingdom ; for, lince the fmaller tribes are in general de- 

 flined to become the prey of the larger, an adequate prc- 

 vifion is made for the fupply of every kind ; none en- 

 tirely periflies through want ; none is ultimately extir- 

 pated by depredation. 



It is by the numbers, therefore, of the fpinous fillies 

 that the other orders are preferved, and their own perpe- 

 tuated. In them, as v/e have already obferved, genera- 

 tion is performed, not by producing a living animal, or 

 by hatching a diftin6l egg, but by fpawning innumerable 

 ova, that are quickened into life by the heat of the fun, 

 and are defiined to fupply the annual wafle of millions. 

 Hence the powers of fecundity in this order, exceed be- 

 lief, and in a iliort fpace defy calculation. A fingle her- 

 ring, if fuiFered to multiply unmolefieS, and undiminiihed 

 for twenty years, would fnew a progeny greater in bulk, 

 tlian the globe itfelf f. It is ov.-ing to this exube- 



VoL. III. rant 



• LinnjEus has four liunded fpinous fiflics. 



f Golufuit'.i fsys above ten tinges greater, Nut. Hid, vol. vi. page 335, 



