COMMON ANGLER. 
But, after all, this reasoning, we apprehend, 
will not of itself overthrow what is advanced 
by Pliny: since he has not any where asserted 
that it is absolutely necessary to this fish's 
existence, that it should possess these filaments; 
and, if it were, it would by no means follow, 
that another species, without them, might not 
enjoy other means of obtaining it's food. 
Few people possess any opportunity of as- 
certaining fadls, as to the habits of this fish ; 
which, certainly, if no credit is to be given to 
the account of Plinv, lias very little right to 
the appellation by which it is most commonly 
distinguished. 
For our own parts, we profess our entire 
ignorance of the truth : though we risque lit- 
tle in suggesting, tiiat tliese filaments can ne- 
ver be the sole means of the animal's securing 
it's prey; since it is well known to be a greai 
destroyer of the dog fish, which it could 
never possibly master by such means. MHiy, 
then, it mav be demanded, cannot that species 
of the Angler which wants these filaments, 
obtuin all if s rood by the same means as the 
Common 
