Class IV. COMMON HERRING. 447 



rings ; they then pass through the British chan- 

 nel, anfl after that in a manner disappear. 

 Those which take to the west, after offering 

 themselves to the Hebrides, where the great 

 stationary fishery is, proceed towards the north 

 of Ireland, where they meet with a second in- 

 terruption, and are obliged to make a second 

 division ; the one takes to the western side, and 

 is scarcely perceived, being soon lost in the im- 

 mensity of the Atlantic ; but the other, which 

 passes into the Irish sea, rejoices and feeds the 

 inhabitants of most of the coasts that border on 

 it. These brigades, as we may call them, which 

 are thus separated from the greater columns, 

 are often capricious in their motions, and do 

 not shew an invariable attachment to their 

 haunts. We have had, in our time, instances 

 of their entirely quitting the coasts of Cardigan- 

 shire, and visiting those of Caernarvonshire and 

 Flintshire, where they continued for a few years, 

 but they have since quite deserted our sea, and 

 returned to their old seats. The season of their 

 appearance among us was very late, never be- 

 fore the latter end of November ; their continu- 

 ance till February. 



Were we inclined to consider this partial mi- Providen- 

 gration of the herring in a moral light, we might stinct." 

 reflect with veneration and awe on the mighty 



