OF FISHES IN GENERAL. 
1 6 
ready been reviewed in the preceding part of this work. 
In every thing refembling intelligence, their inferiority 
is equally linking. They are incapable of attachment, 
or of acquiring any new habits by domeftication andinter- 
courfe with man. Some faint traces, indeed, of memory 
they difeover, if it be true, as is alleged, that they re- 
gularly return to the place where they have been fed * ; 
but even this fmall lhare of recollection, can hardly be al- 
lowed them without hefitation ; for they may be affem- 
bled there, merely by feeing one of their number pick 
tip the remains of the food which they had formerly left. 
It forms no exception to the general conclufion, that all 
their powers and faculties are of a fubovdinate kind, fuit- 
ed to that humble and paffive exiftence which Nature 
has affigned them. To preferve exillence, and to con- 
tinue it to pofterity, fill up the whole circle of their pur- 
fuits and enjoyments, to which they are impelled rather 
by neceffity than choice. While they feem mechanically 
excited to every fruition, their fenfes are incapable of 
making any diftinflions ; and they are hurried forward 
in purfuit of whatever they can fwallow, conquer, or en- 
joy f. 
* Willoub. Hid. Pifctum, cap. iii. 
f Goldfinith, Nat. H:ft. voL vi. p. 164. 
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