of locomotion." One of this family — tlio lancelet — is the lowliest 

 of all fishes : its organization is so very humble, that it has even 

 been mistaken for a mollusk, and not of the highest class either. 

 Here then we see the fish emerging from a lower grade, by an 

 almost imperceptible gradation ; and the connection with a higher, 

 the reptiles, is clearly established in the salamander and the frog, 

 whose early liyes are passed as fishes ; for the tadpole, whether 

 the young of the salamander or the frog, is, as a tadpole, a real 

 fish — breathing by means of gills, and incapable of living out of 

 water. Subsequently undergoing a wonderful metamorphosis, and 

 becoming a true reptile, cannot invalidate its fish-like youth ; but 

 only shews, that though a step higher in creation, it is very 

 closely allied to the race below it. 



It is strange, that even now, the sciences enlighten but a 

 comparatively narrow horizon ; and this seems the more extra- 

 ordinary, as neither their utility, nor the amusement derived from 

 their pursuit, can be questioned; and because in the earlier 

 historic ages, we find traces of the cultivation of many of them. 

 But there is a spirit of enquiry now abroad, which bids fair to 

 wipe away the stigma from our own times. 



The Ichthyology of the Ancients is sufliciently confused. 

 That they had some knowledge of it, as well as of other branches 

 of Natural History, cannot be denied: they even made collections. 

 Alexander gave orders to all huntsmen, birdcatchers, Jishermen, 

 and others, to send whatever creatures they could procure, to 

 Aristotle. Apuleius, caused all kinds of animals — particularly 

 jlgJi — to be brought to him, that he might study their anatomy, 

 and thus determine their characteristic peculiarities. 



It appears, indeed, highly probable, that the researches of the 

 Ancients, on this subject, were far more extensive than we can 

 glean from the fragments of their works which have survived to 

 our day ; as from these, it is known, that fish was a more highly 

 esteemed delicacy, than either fowl or four-footed beast. Their 

 culinary preparations are more frequently of fish, than of other 

 creatures. The fasting of the Greek monks, was abstinence from 

 what they considered the greatest of delicacies — fish : and if, at 



