OF NATURAL HISTORY. 79 



cod, the herring, the falmon, &c. Thefe, from the number and 

 pofition of ttieir fins, as well as from the iliape of their bodies, are 

 deftined for quicker motion, and for travelling to great diftances in 

 queft of food, or for fpawning in fhoals or in rivers. Others, as the 

 flounder, the fkate, the turbet, torpedo, &c. are broad and compref- 

 fed. Thefe, like the eel-kind, frequent muddy bottoms. Others 

 are triangular, quadrangular, round, &c. Befide thofe which ap- 

 proach to regular figures, the variations and compofitions are fo nu- 

 merous, that the forms of fifhes are much more diverfified than thofe 

 of quadrupeds or birds. To defend themfelves againfl their ene- 

 mies, many fi(hes are armed with ftrong, fharp fpines or prickles. 

 For the fame purpofe, and likewife for wounding or killing their 

 prey, fome have a large horn on their front, and others a fword, or 

 rather a faw, which are tremendous weapons. The more timid and 

 defencelefs tribes are endowed with the faculty of rapid motion ; 

 and fome of them have fins fo large and flexible, that, when hard 

 purfued, they ate enabled to leave their natural element, to dart 

 through the air to conliderable diftances, and difappoint the defigns. 

 of their enemies.. 



Fifhes are as much diverfified in fize as in figure. The ocean 

 produces the largefl animals which now inhabit this globe. The 

 enormous mafTes of the whale and walrus tribes far exceed thofe of 

 the elephant, rhinoceros, or river-horfe, the largefl terreftrial ani- 

 mals of which we have any proper knowledge. From the immenfe 

 bones, however, found in Siberia and many parts of Europe, we are 

 induced 10 believe, that land animals have formerly exifted whofe 

 fiz,e mufl have been much larger than that of the prefent elephant. 

 This animal, whofe fpecies is now fuppofed to be extinguifhed, is 

 knovyn among naturalifts by the denomination of the mammouth. 

 Near the river Ohio, fome prodigious bones and teeth have lately 

 been difcovered, which indicate an animal of incredible magnitude. 



With: 



