OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



333 



genus, closely allied to Silurus proper, of which I shall take an early- 

 opportunity to publish a detailed description, with figures, under the 

 name of Glanis Aristotelis : and thus, though at this late day, vindi- 

 cate once more the accuracy of the greatest naturalist of the ancient 

 world. 



" The sreat work of Cuvier and Valenciennes, Histoire Naturelle 

 des Poissons, contains all that was currently known about the class 

 of fishes up to the time of its publication. The learned authors of 

 this extensive book, which, though unfinished, numbers not less than 

 twenty-two volumes, have not only described all the fishes they could 

 obtain themselves, but also sedulously collected all the information that 

 may be gathered from earlier writers, and even referred the state- 

 ments of the ancients relating to these animals to their respective 

 species, as far as this could be done. That work is therefore as truly 

 a model of scientific erudition, as it is a standard for all future inves- 

 tigations upon the class of fishes. 



" These remarks are made chiefly with the view that I may not 

 appear to disparage a scientific production which is destined to stand 

 the test of time, because I happen to have it in my power to rectify 

 some statements respecting the Silurus Glanis contained in that work. 



" Strange condition of modern culture, which makes it possible for 

 an inhabitant of the United States to contribute to the elucidation of 

 the works of Aristotle, written more than two thousand years ago, and 

 to vindicate the accuracy of that great naturalist by observations of a 

 similar character made upon the inhabitants of the fresh waters of a 

 continent, the existence of which was not even suspected by the Greek 

 philosopher." 



Professor Felton remarked, that he had some acquaintance 

 with the fishes of Greece, but chiefly in other than their sci- 

 entific relations. He rose, however, not to speak of science, 

 but to make a few philological remarks. 



" The communication of Professor Agassiz is extremely interesting 

 in every point of view. It is a very striking fact, that the fish in 

 question should, so many centuries after the death of Aristotle, have 

 come from the Achelous across the Atlantic to this country, to fur- 

 nish our associate with a commentary on the great philosopher, and 

 to vindicate his accuracy as an observer against the criticism even of 

 a Cuvier. 



