HISTORY OP THE ICHTHYOLOGY OF NEW BRUXSWICK. 31 



the same general pli_ysical and climatic conditions existed ; 

 for the " description of the productions of a single pro- 

 vince would apply to almost the whole of the northern 

 part of the great continent" (p. 355); forgetful of the 

 fact that great gaps often occur in the distribution of 

 some special form, even in cases of very restricted faunal 

 provinces, and that the theory becomes more objection- 

 able when sought to be applied to an extensive region. 

 For this reason then, his list, comprising sixty-four 

 species, culled from Richardson's " Fauna Boreali Ameri- 

 cana," Pennant's "Arctic Zoology," and several American 

 journals of science, must be viewed with suspicion, nor 

 any surprise felt at the ]iresence in it of many apocryphal, 

 extra-limital, and other doubtful species. At the same 

 time, it must be borne in mind that Dr. Gesner was a 

 man eminent in many branches of science, fully compe- 

 tent to become an authority in ichthyology, did his tastes 

 and opportunities lead that way, and well able to appre- 

 ciate the worth of scientilic methods and accuracy. The 

 " Gesner Museum," the first to be established in the pro- 

 vince, bears witness to his great energy and wide attain- 

 ments. Doubtless, the great majority of species included 

 in his list, and subsecj[uently identified as provincial fishes, 

 were actually observed and determined by him ; but the 

 reader is at a loss to know what they are or how to sepa- 

 rate them from the rest, consequently no satisfactory 

 criticismx of the catalogue can be made. 



