Note h — BOOK IX.
Reading edition
Galen was aware of the Respiration of Fishes by their Branchiæ. For having said, that Fishes have no Occasion of a Voice, neither respire through the Mouth as Land Animals do, he saith, Sed earum, quas Branchias nuncupamus, constructio, ipsis vice Pulmonis est. Cùm enim crebris ac tenuibus foraminibus sint Branchiæ hæ interceptæ, aëri quidem & vapori perviis, subtilioribus tamen quàm pro mole aquæ; hanc quidem extra repellunt, illa autem promptè intromittunt. Galen de Us. Part. L. 6. c. 9. So also Pliny held, that Fishes respired by their Gills; but he saith Aristotle was of a different Opinion. Plin. L. 9. c. 7. And so Aristotle seems to be in his Hist. Animal. L. 8. c. 2. and in other Places. And I may add our famous Dr. Needham. See his De form. Fœtu, Chap. 6. and Answer to Severinus.