ICHTHYOLOGY. 9 



Macken, seemed to show conclusively that the sea-trout 

 {Salmo Eriox) and the common trout (Salmo Fario) will 

 produce a veritable hybrid. Mr. Buckland, I believe, in 

 the year 1864, crossed the eggs of a salmon and common 

 trout, but failed to hatch them. Here then, again, is a 

 wide question still open ; and I will only add that if there 

 are no such things as hybrid fish, it is most strange ; as 

 fish have certainly more favourable conditions for hybrid- 

 izing than birds, which undoubtedly do produce hybrids. 

 But for real monstra informia ingentia we must look to 

 the sea ; as also for the strange forms of fish which have 

 such wonderful resemblance to both animate and inanimate 

 things on land, and which are thus spoken of in a " Con- 

 templation " in " divine Du Bartas : " — 



" God quicken'd in the sea and in the rivers, 

 So many fishes of so many features, 

 That in the waters we may see all creatures, 

 Even all that in the earth are to be found, 

 As if the world were in deep waters drown'd. 

 For seas, as well as skies, have sun, moon, stars, 

 As well as air — swallows, rooks, and stares ; 

 As well as earth — vines, roses, nettles, melons, 

 Mushrooms, pinks, gilliflowers, and many millions 

 Of other plants, more rare, more strange than these, 

 As very fishes living in the seas ; 

 As also rams, calves, horses, hares, and hogs, 

 Wolves, urchins, lions, elephants, and dogs ; 

 Yea, men and maids ; and which I most admire, 

 The mitred bishop and the cowled friar ; 

 Of which examples but a few years since 

 "Were shown the Norway and Polonian Prince." 



And probably the sea has still in it as many strange 

 fish as ever came out of it, perhaps more strange and 

 wonderful than even Piscator mentioned in his defence of 



