464 Dr KNOX on the Natural History of 



doubt; but respecting this it would of course be unbecoming in me 

 to make any further remarks. I may take the liberty, however, 

 once for all, of cautioning those who may trouble themselves with 

 a perusal of these memoirs, respecting criticisms, which no doubt 

 will be offered in abundance, with a boldness not unfrequently 

 proportioned to the ignorance of the critic *. When discoveries 

 are made in any of the exact sciences, as of astronomy, optics, ma- 

 thematics, &c. the merit or accuracy of such discoveries is investi- 

 gated and criticised by astronomers, opticians, mathematicians, 

 &c., that is, by persons competent to the task, and entitled to cri- 

 ticise by a parity of ability and of attainments. But in natural 

 history it is otherwise : for although there are many problems in 

 natural history of extremely difficult solution, requiring an ex- 

 tended acquaintance with anatomy and physiology, two sciences 

 of as difficult acquisition as any I know of; yet I have met with 

 thousands of persons, otherwise well educated, who cannot be made 

 to understand this very simple fact ; but who, on the contrary, per- 

 sist in believing that any one may make observations on zoology, 

 whatever may be their abilities or previous education. Those 

 readers, then, who take an interest in the zoology of the salmon 

 and herring, would perhaps do well to consider that a familiarity 

 with fishes, as an amateur angler or fishmonger, does not consti- 

 tute a zoologist ; the application has been made to other sciences, 

 and I know of no reason why zoology should be held singular in 

 this respect. 



The memoir is divided into sections, with a view chiefly to the 

 convenience of the reader. 



* We have already seen a person assert, in open defiance of the statements of all 

 practical fishermen, and of every writer on natural history, from LINNE downwards 

 to Professor RENNIE, that the food of the Herring was known to every body ! ! The 

 object of such remarks cannot be mistaken. The respect due to science, and to 

 this Society, precludes me from noticing such statements at greater length in this 

 place. A few additional remarks will be found in the Appendix. 



