20 
OF FISHES IN GENERAL. 
Thus the rapacious fifhes are different from the pre- 
datory kinds of terreflrial animals ; they are neither few 
in number, nor folitary in their habits. Their rapacity 
is not confined to a few fpecies, one region of the Tea, or 
individual efforts. Almofi the whole order is continually 
irritated by the cravings of an appetite, the flrength 
of which excites them to encounter every danger, and 
which, by its excefs, often deftroys that life which it was 
intended to prolong. Innumerable fhoals of one fpecies, 
purfue thofe of another through vaft trails of the ocean, 
from the vicinity of the pole, doxvn to the equator. It 
is thus that the eod purfties the whiting, which flies be- 
fore it, from the banks of Newfoundland, to the fouthern 
coafts of Spain. '1 hus too the cachalot drives whole 
armies of herrings from the regions of the north, de- 
vouring, at every inllant, thoufands in the rear. Hence, 
the'Iife of every fifh, from the final left to the greatefl, 
is but a continued feene of rapine ; and every quarter of 
the immenfe ocean, prefents one uniform pi&ure of hofti- 
lity, violence and invafion. 
- In this unceafing conflict, occafioned by the voracity 
of the. different kinds of fifhes, the fmaller tribes muff 
have, long fince, fallen vidtims to the avidity of the 
larger, had not Nature ikilfully proportioned the means 
of their .efcape, their numbers, and their produitive 
powers, i to the extent and variety of the dangers, to 
which, they are continually expofed. To fupply the 
ConftaatiVafle, occafioned by their deftruefion in the un- 
equal combat, they arc not only more numerous and 
prolific, than the larger kinds 5 but, by a happy inftinit 
are directed to feek for food and protection near the 
fliorC ; where, from the lhallownefs of the water, their 
leftroyers are unable to purfue them. Thefe, yeilding 
