Ik'S 
NATURAL HISTOnr. 
The spawn continues in its egg state in some fishes longer 
than in others, and this generally in proportion to their size 
The young of the salmon continues in egg from December 
to April ; the carp three weeks, and the little gold-fish, 
from China is produced still quicker. The young spawn 
are the prey of all the inhabitants of the water, even of their 
own parents, and scarcely one in a thousand escapes the 
numerous perils of its youth. 
Such is the general picture of these heedless and hungry 
creatures ; but there are some in this class, living in the 
waters, that are possessed of finer organs and higher sensa- 
tions ; that have all the tenderness of birds or quadrupeds 
for their young ; that nurse them with constant care, and 
protect them from every injury. Of this class are the Ceta- 
ceous order, or the fishes of the whale kind. There are 
others, though not capable of nursing their young, yet that 
bring them alive into the world, and defend them with cou- 
rage and activity. These are the Cartilaginous kinds, or 
those which have gristles instead of bones. But the fierce 
unmindful tribe we have been describing, that leave their 
spawn without any protection, are called the Spinous or 
bony kinds, from their bones resembling the sharpness of 
thorns. 
Of Cetaceous Fishes. 
This tribe is composed of the Whale, the Cachalot , the 
Dolphin , the Grampus, and the Porpesse. All these re- 
semble quadrupeds in their internal structure, and in some 
of their appetites and allections. Like quadrupeds they 
have lungs, a midriff, a stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, 
bladder, and parts of generation ; their heart also resembles 
that of quadrupeds, with its partitions closed up as in them, 
and driving red and warm blood in circulation through the 
body ; and to keep these parts warm, the whole kind are 
also covered between the skin and the muscles with a thick 
coat of fat or blubber. 
As these animals breathe the air, it is obvious that they 
cannot bear to be any long time under water. They are 
constrained, therefore, every two or three minutes, to come 
up to the surface to take breath, as well as to spout out 
through their nostril, for they have but one, that water 
which they sucked in while gaping for their prey. 
But it is in the circumstances in which they continue their 
kind, that these animals shew an eminent superiority. Other 
