TIAL IX- 

 STINCT. 



338 HERRING. Class IV. 



thus feparated from the greater columns, are of- 

 ten capricious in their motions, and do not Ihew 

 an invariable attachment to their haunts. Wc 

 have had in our tim.e inftances of their entirely quit- 

 ting the coalis of Cardigayijhire^ and viliting thofe 

 of Caernar'co'nfrAre and Flintjhrre^ where they conti- 

 nued for a few years, but in the prefent year have 

 quite deferted our fe?, and returned to their old 

 feats. The feafon of their appearance among us 

 was very late, never before the latter end of Nq- 

 'vemher \ their continuance till February, 

 Providen- Were we inclined to confider this partial migra- 

 tion of the herring in a moral light, we might re- 

 fle(9: with veneration and awe on the mighty Pow- 

 er which originally imprefled on this moft' ujeful 

 body of his creatures, the inftindt that direds and 

 points out the courfe, that blelTes and enriches thefe 

 iflands, which caufes them at certain and invaria- 

 ble times to quit the vail polar deeps, and offer 

 themfelves to our expecting fleets. That benevo- 

 lent Being has never, from the earlieft records, been 

 once known to withdraw this blefllng from the 

 whole, though he often thinks proper to deny it 

 to particulars ; yet this partial failure (for which 

 we fee no natural reafon) fhould fill us with the 

 moft exalted and grateful fenfe of his Providence, 

 for imprefTing fo invariable and general inftindt 

 on thefe fifh towards a fouthward migration, when 

 the whole is to be benefited, and to withdraw it 

 only when a minute part is to fuffer. 



This 



