OF FISHES IN GENERAL. 
33 
plate them in a more favourable point of view, and that 
ls > m the extraordinary period of time during which they 
Poffefs the humble exillence which Nature has affigned 
them, 'i heir longevity is far fuperior to that of other 
animals *. We have already feen what ample provi- 
fi°n is made for fupplying them with food, by mul- 
ll plying the inhabitants of the fea : They are, therefore, 
10 little danger of perilhiag from want ; and there is rea- 
fon to believe, that they are, in a great meafure, ex- 
e napted from difeafes. 
Moll of the diforders incident to mankind arife from 
the changes and alterations incident to the atmofphere ; 
but fi flies refide in an element but little fubjeft to change ; 
theirs is an uniform exifteuce ; their movements are 
without effort, and their life without labour. Their 
bones alfo, which are united by cartilages, admit of in- 
definite extenfion ; and the different fiz.es of animals of 
the fame kind among fifties is very various. They ftili 
keep growing ; their bodies, inflead of fuffering the ri- 
gidity of age, which is the caufe of natural decay in land 
animals, Hill continue increaling with frefh fupplics ; and 
as the body grows, the conduits of life furnifh their flores 
ln greater abundance. How long a fifti, that feems to have 
Scarce any bounds put to its growth, continues to live, is 
not afeertained f . 
Some fpecies of the German carp have been knovvn to 
Me an hundred years f; thofe fpecies, however, with 
which we are bell acquainted, feem not to enjoy fo 
• 3 rc at a degree of longevity. The falmon, we have re- 
marked, takes only fix years to reach its full fize ; if we 
Vol. If. -n- i, 
Ie allow 
* Gcfc er de pdciLus. 
f Fidt Bacon’s worts,. 
