?.OOKING-GLASS. 
185 
ESSAY XX, 
On Fijhes. 
IT is evident, that every Phyfiognomy bears a 
fignificant mark, exprefling the degree of faculties 
affigned to each animal on the fcale of creation. 
For inftance ; how widely different is a fifli com- 
pared with man, the lion, and other creatures, par- 
ticularly in profile, or his fide-face ! His capacity 
is at the fame proportionable difiance from fuperior 
underfianding j for he has not fufficient fenfe to 
think, refleH, acf, and contrive a way to efcape 
from the net : he can neither fiiut nor cover thofe 
dull and globular eyes, which differ much from the 
fame organ of fight in the fox and elephant, — two 
beafis remarkable for cunning, proportioned to 
their features. 
Many fiflies feem defiitute of every quality ne- 
ceffary for living either in fociety or with any kind 
of communication with each other; fince, like ty- 
rants, the great ones defiroy the lower clafs for 
food, with a total indifference about the manner of 
devouring them, rather than indulging the tafie 
while they fatisfy their ravenous appetites; yet 
finny tribes of this defeription poffefs more than 
half 
