ON THE ICHTIIYOLOGICAL SYSTEM OF BARON CUV1ER. 11 



the classification in the Animal Kingdom, and we are assured 

 the remaining volumes will be written on the same plan. 



With this improved edition before us, and with the know- 

 ledge of the progress of the Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, 

 we have considered that it would answer no purpose beneficial 

 to the reader or to science, were we to attempt a distinct 

 undertaking of our own, and, by anticipating the labours of the 

 Baron, risk a distribution in opposition to the typical system, 

 and substitute for his profound researches, descriptions liable 

 to be soon after superseded, or perhaps controverted, by his 

 own masterly pen, thus professedly engaged on the specific 

 account of the whole class. It was therefore deemed most 

 advisable, for the present, to confine the lchthyological part 

 of the animal kingdom to the version of the revised text in 

 the second edition before noticed, with commentaries in- 

 tended to interest the general reader; and, avoiding as much 

 as possible dry details, to endeavour to communicate facts of 

 a more popular nature, relating to the manners and charac- 

 ters of the whole finny race ; to the habits of the larger 

 groups ; to the singularities observed in the nature of certain 

 species ; and to the fisheries, economical uses and historical 

 facts connected with Ichthyology. 



For this purpose, the learned introduction and extensive 

 ground of research, embraced in our author's great work, 

 furnish already abundant materials, and as the publication 

 proceeds we may expect much valuable matter in the future 

 volumes. But the progress of the Animal Kingdom requiring 

 as little delay as possible, it is intended, in order to complete 

 our descriptive parts, to refer in some places to other sources, 

 and while we purpose, not indeed without hesitation, to point 

 out in the notes, a few species which seem to have escaped 

 the vigilance of the noble author, we may also venture to state 

 a few observations of our own, collected during the course of 

 many years, and repeated voyages to distant climates. 



