NATURAL HISTQRY 
O F 
F ISHE S. 
CHAPTER X. OF FISHES IN GENERAI,. 
Sect. 1 Hiftory of Ichthyology. 
In the early periods of fociety, the necefiities and wants 
of men, rather than their curiofity, prompt them to 
pay attention to the different objefts, which the muni- 
ficent Author of nature has placed around them : And, 
though fifties conlfitute a greater part of the fubliftence of 
men, in their rude and favage ftate, than perhaps in any 
future ftage of their political exiftence, yet their ac- 
quaintance with this part of the animal kingdom, in the 
earlier ages of fociety, is by no means extenfive. A 
few fpecies that are moil common, or moil eaiily taken 
m the neared river or lake, are all that the neceffuy of 
the favage requires; and, as in him, curiofity has not 
yet begun to be a fteady principle of action, it feldom 
ieads him to examine more. 
Vol. HI. A Even 
