X PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



Among these are representations of the cranium in twenty 

 different genera, from the works of Rosen thai, Cuvier, and 

 others ; and not to interfere with the ornamental appearance of 

 these crania as vignettes, by a repetition of letters or numbers 

 in reference to each particular bone, the markings are confined 

 to the cranium of the Perch only, as introduced at page 7, 

 premising, that a little useful perseverance will lead to a 

 knowledge of the analogous bones in other crania. 



Besides a very copious general index of twelve pages, there 

 is added, at the request of some particular friends, a classed 

 index to many of the principal or most interesting among the 

 vignettes ; and neither expense or labour has been spared to 

 render this new edition worthy of the favourable reception 

 bestowed upon its predecessor. 



To the Rev. Robert Holdsworth of Brixham I am in- 

 debted for a long series of notes upon British Fishes, many 

 of which will be found incorporated in these volumes. From 

 this gentleman I learned that a very rare fish, the Silvery 

 Hairtail, Trichiurus lepturus, was taken at Brixham in the 

 spring of the present year. The species is figured and de- 

 scribed, vol. i. p. 204. 



Mr. Couch of Polperro has continued to supply me with 

 notices of new or rare occurrences on the Cornish coast, and 

 has lately obtained a large-sized specimen of the Blenny 

 figured at page 263 of volume i. which, with his characteristic 

 liberality, he has presented to the British Museum. 



To Dr. Richard Parnell, whose " Essay on the Fishes of 

 the Forth" gained him the prize of the Wernerian Society of 

 Edinburgh, I am indebted for the loan of many useful spe- 

 cimens from his extensive and valuable collection. 



I also beg to acknowledge and record my obligations to 

 the zoological officers of the British Museum for their uniform 

 kindness and their assistance upon all occasions. 



llyder-street, St. Jame^s, 

 October 1841. 



