ON THE 



ICHTHYOLOGICAL SYSTEM 



OF 



BARON CUVIER. 



We enter, at length, upon the last class of vevtebrated ani- 

 mals in the natural system of Baron Cnvier, containing the 

 Ichthyology or classification of Fish : but before we proceed 

 to translate his description of the first order of fish in his 

 " Regne Animal,'' it may be convenient to the reader for us to 

 enlarge on his Ichthyological system in general. In the first 

 edition of the Regne Animal, the part relating to this class was 

 treated in a. manner less perfect than in the second ; for the 

 author, having dedicated his time, during the interval between 

 the two publications, to continued and thorough researches in 

 Ichthyology, the increase of materials and information ex- 

 tended and modified his views, until he prepared the results 

 for publication in a great and separate work, under the title 

 of Histoire Natnrelle des Poissons \ It is the abstract or 

 condensed form of this work which we find in the second and 

 improved edition of his Regne Animal, reduced in proportion, 

 to the importance of Ichthyology in a general system of ani- 

 mated nature. As far as the daily progress of discovery in 

 the natural sciences will permit, we may regard it as the final 

 arrangement ; for although nine volumes only of the great work 

 have as yet issued from the press, they are in conformity with 



1 Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, par M. Le Baron Cuvier, &c. &c. et 

 par M. Valenciennes aide-naturaliste, &c. his able and laborious assistant. 



