Of the Scales of FiflieS. 237 
the Order of their Arrangement, the Scales 
of Fifties bear a near Refemblance to the 
Feathers on the Bodies and Wings of Moths 
and Butterflies. 
Thefe Beales are not fitppofed to be ftied 
every Year *, nor 'during the whole Life of 
the Filh but to have an annual Addition 
of a new Scale, growing over and extending 
everyWay beyond the Edges of the former, 
in proportion to the Fifh’s Growth fame- 
what in the fame Manner as the Wood of 
Trees enlarges yearly by the Addition of a 
new Circle next the Bark. And as the Age 
of a Tree may be known by the Number of 
Ringlets its Trunk is made up of, fo inFifhes 
the Number of Plates compoflng their Scales 
denote to us their Age. It is alfo probable, 
that as there is a Time of Year when Trees 
ceafe to grow, or have any farther Addition 
to their Bulk, the fame Thing happens to 
the Scales in Fifties; and that afterwards, 
at another Time of Year, a new Addition, 
Increafe, or Growth, begins. Somewhat like 
this in Birds and Beads their Feathers and 
Hairs demondrate. 
Mr. Leeuwenhoek took fome Scales 
from an extraordinary large Carp , forty-two 
Inches and a half long, and thirty-three and 
a quarter in the Round, Rynland Meafure, 
f Vid. Leeuwen. Epift. PhyfioU Epift, 24 Maii, 1716, 
R z which 
