INTRODUCTION. 47 



of extraneous matter, the extent of which can be 

 known only to those who have experienced the 

 labour of so doing. To supply this desideratum, 

 >ve have commenced our Elementary Treatises upon 

 the structure and functions of the beings composing 

 the several divisions of the Zoological kingdom : 

 and in which, avoiding as much as possible the dry 

 abstractions of science, we shall endeavour to lay 

 before our readers a portion of what is known of 

 these most interesting subjects. We have chosen 

 " Ichthyology" for the first of our series, as being 

 vast in extent, and engrossing in the interest which 

 its study excites; involving in its pursuit consi- 

 derations of the greatest importance and utility, 

 not only as regards the place which Fishes hold in 

 the mighty scale of Creation, but also in respect to 

 their economical and commercial relations. And we 

 have other reasons — as will presently be seen — for 

 our choice. In the mean time, we offer our "Work, 

 with the anxious desire to lay before our readers, in 

 a collected and condensed form, the immense mass 

 of information concerning the structure and func- 

 tions of Fishes, which is scattered through innume- 

 rable works, many of which are almost altogether 

 inaccessible to most persons ; and also in the hope 

 of attracting the attention of the student to this 

 most interesting department of Nature, in which 

 he cannot fail to find unanswerable illustrations 

 of the wisdom, and goodness, and power of the 

 Creator. 



In pursuance of this plan, we shall first notice 



