L I M 
thrufting the fibres of this miifcle into every pore 
of theftone, and there keeping tliem inflated : but, 
were this the cafe, the adhefion muft ceafe with 
the exiftence of the aninnal ; whereas, if the Limpet 
be cut into feveral portions through the fhell and 
body, every part thus feparated will adhere with 
it's due proportion of force to the body of the 
flone. Neither can this adhefive principle be re- 
folved on the known attachment of two pieces of 
polifhed marble, or that of leather to ftone^ for, 
in both thofe cafes, whatever perpendicular force 
the adhefion can bear, the leaft force applied ho- 
rizontally occafions them to flip, or Aide off from 
each other; while the adhefion of this fifh is equally 
powerful in an horizontal or perpendicular direc- 
tion : the true caufe, therefore, of this fingular qua- 
lity, is a vifcous juice emitted from this mufcle, 
which, though imperceptible to the eye, is never- 
thelefs capable of producing thefe furprizing ef- 
fefts. This indeed may be perceived by the 
touch: for if the finger be applied to the place im- 
mediately after the removal of the Limpet from a 
ftone, the tenacity of this juice will be extremely 
fcrong; but if any wet touches the fione after the 
removal of the fifii, no vifcofity will be percepti- 
ble, the whole fubllance of die glue being inflrantly 
difiblved, and it's effecls totally loft. Water 
therefore is a fufiicient folvent for this glue : but 
the clofe adhefion of the outer rim of the great cir- 
cular mufcle prevents the external water n"om a6t- 
ing on it, otherwife it muft alv/ays be deftroyed as 
foon as difcharged. However, the under furface 
of the body of the animal is entirely covered v/ith 
fmall tubercles, containing v/ater, which the crea- 
ture difcharges whenever inclined to liberate itfelf, 
and the whole cement immediately diiTolves be- 
fore it. 
The vifcous humidity pofifefiTed by the Limpet 
for the purpofe of affixing itfelf to rocks, is not 
peculiar to that animal alone: the urtica marina 
enjoys the fame; and the horns of fea-urchins, by 
which they fix them.felves, are endued with a power 
of difcharging a fimiiar fluid, which anfwers the 
fame intention. 
Linna;us enumerates thirty-fix different fpecies; 
of which the following are the moft curious. 
Limpet, Common. This fpecies has rough 
prominent ftrias, with edges fharply crenated ; and 
the vertex is pretty near the centre. It is extremely 
numerous on tlie Britifh coafts. 
Limpet, Transpap.ent. The fhell of this 
fpecies, which is common on the Cornifii coafts, 
is pellucid, longitudinally marked with rows of 
rich blue fpots; and the vertex is placed near one 
of the eda'es. 
Limpet, Streaked. This fpecies is an inch 
broad at the bafe, and about three parts of an inch 
high; the bafe is fliboval; and the top is fharp, or 
pointed. The outfide is of a duftiy brown colour, 
with an olive caft; and it has ten ridges, rough, 
and equidiftant, appearing moft confpicuous to- 
wards the mouth, and becoming fainter as they 
approach the apex, v/here they totally vanifh. 
The infide of the fhell is variegated with yellow, 
brown, and white, difpofed in irregular circles. 
It is a native of the Eaft. 
Limpet, Starry. This fpecies has feven ribs, 
forming as many prickles at the rim : the fiiape is 
ovatedj about an inch one way, and two-thirds of 
an inch the other. The top is pointed, but not ex- 
actly in the centre of the fiiell ; and the ribs termi- 
nate in a point beyond it. The colour is whitiHi 
externally, variegated with black clouds of fpots^ 
efpecially about the ribs. This fhell is commonly 
found on the fhores of the Oriental feas. 
Limpet, Oblong, Great. This fpecies is 
nearly three inches long at the bafe, and an inch 
and a half in diameter; the edge is fmooth and 
even, and the height is about an inch. The fur- 
face is almoft fmooth, except that there are feveral 
longitudinal rays, and fome tranfverfe or circular 
ones. The external colour is a dufky brovv^n^ 
mixed v/ith grey, and internally whitifh. It 
abounds in the Eaft Indies; and is likewife found 
on the coafts of the Mediterranean. 
LINARLl. See Linnet. 
LING; the Gadus Molva ofLinnsus. Ac- 
cording to the Artedian fyftem, the Ling is a fpe- 
cies of the gadi, diftinguiflied by the clear and ex- 
preflive name of the gadus with two dorfal fins, a 
bearded mouth, and the upper jaw longeft. The 
Ling takes it's Englifii name from it's length, be- 
ing a corruption of the word Long. It's ufual 
fize is from three to four feet; but fome have been 
caught which meafured fix or feven. The body 
is very flender; the head is fiat; the teeth in the 
upper jaw are fmall, and very numerous; thofe in 
the lower are few, flender, and fharp ; and the chin 
is adorned with a fmall beard. The firft dorfal 
fin, which is fmall, is placed near the head; and 
the fecond, which is very long, reaches almoft to 
the tail : tlie peroral fins are compofed of fifteen 
radiated rays, the ventral of fix, and the anal of 
fixty-two; and the tail is rounded at the extre- 
mity. 
The colour of thefe fifli is liable to confiderable 
variations: fome are of an olive hue on the back 
and fides, and others cinereous ; but their bellies 
are invariably white; the ventral fins are alfo 
white; the dorfal and anal are edged with the fame 
colour; and the tail is tranfverfely barred near it's 
extremity with black, tipt with v/hite. 
Ling abound on the coafts of Britain and Ire- 
land, and form a confiderable article of commerce- 
They are in the higheft perfe6i:ion on the Yorkfnire 
coafts from the commencement of February till 
May, and fometimes longer. They Ipawn in 
June, depofiting their eggs in the foft oozy ground 
at the mouths of rivers; at which period the males 
feparate from the females. 
While the Ling continues in feafon, it's liver is 
very white, and abounds with a fine-flavoured oil; 
but no fooner does it ceafe to be in feafon, than it's 
liver becomes red, and deftitute of oil. The fame 
indeed happens to the cod, and fome other fifheSj, 
in a certain degree, but not fo remarkably as in 
the Ling. In it's beft ftate, a large quantity of 
oil may be extradled from the liver by a flow firej 
but if a violent and fudden heat be ufed for thac 
purpofe, it yields very little. This oil, which is 
implanted by nature in the cellular membranes of 
thefe fifhes, returns into their blood, and fupports 
them during the breeding feafon, when they purfue 
the bufinefs of generation with fo much cagernefs^ 
that they negleft their food. 
Confiderable quantities of t-ing are faked for 
exportation, as well as home confumption ; and for 
this purpofe each fifh muft meafure twenty-fix in- 
ches or upwards from the flioulder to the tail, in 
order to be entitled to the bounty allowed on ex- 
portation: all under this fize are called drizzles. 
LINGUADO. A Weft Indian fifli, which in 
many refpecfts rcfembles the common foal. 
LINGUTULA. A fpecies of fifli fomewhat 
refembling 
