DR. GUNTHER ON THE STUDY OF FISHES. 383 



simultaneously, not merely consecutively. The Wagnerian opera, 

 therefore, that employs both visible and invisible characters, shows an 

 advance worthy our present attainments. 



It was stated above that, while other artists are occupied with the 

 tangible forms of the external, visible world, the musician is busily 

 engaged in the study of the human soul ; yet it must be remembered 

 that he has had to seek for the germs of his art in nature, and that 

 these were hidden from him so deeply that they were hidden long.* 



His resonator must be constructed to re-enforce some particular 

 note which he supposes to be sounding, whereas the telescope of the 

 astronomer reveals many unsought objects at once. And while the 

 painter finds his forms and colors openly displayed, the musician must 

 evolve his from within. He creates both form and spirit, and so en- 

 tirely, that we can form no notion of the smallest tributary melody in 

 any work we have not actually heard, or the score of which we have 

 not seen. 



If our civilization endures or progresses, there can be little doubt 

 that the music of the future will continue to give evidence of the fact, 

 even if it should not contribute to the general advancement. 



-+++- 



DE. GUNTHER OX THE STUDY OF FISHES.f 



MANY difficulties, says the " Quarterly Review," tend to prevent 

 ichthyology becoming a popular study, as the study of shells, 

 insects, birds, or flowers is popular. However it may be with the par- 

 ticular species that anglers seek out and professional fishermen hunt, 

 fishes as a class are not familiar objects. They keep for the most part 

 out of sight, and when at liberty in their element can be detected only 

 by passing glimpses, after which they are nearly always immediately 

 lost. The aquarium, whatever it may have done to aid the study of 

 the lower forms of aquatic animals, has contributed little or nothing to 

 promote a real knowledge of ichthyology ; and a preserved specimen 

 of a fish is a most unsatisfactory object, as far as it can be from hav- 

 ing anything' of the color or the life or the grace of a real fish, and 

 can not by any possibility be made to present a natural aspect. 



Another serious difficulty in the way of the student of fishes may 

 be stated' thus : In beginning the study of any department of natural 

 history, whether it relates to plants or to animals, the first effort is to 

 find out characteristics of the smaller groups composing it, and to 



* See article on " The Modern Piano-forte," p. TOO, October, 1877, in " The Populaa 

 Science Monthly." 



f An Introduction to the^ Study of Fishes, by Albert C. L. G. Giinther, Ph. D., F. R. S., 

 Keeper of the Zoological Department in the British Museum. 



