6 INSTRUCTIOiN^. 
the same accusation, and that there is hardly a fish, bird 
or beast that they have not called by several different 
names. Are not the contentions of Ortyx and Perdrix 
known to all? Is it quite certain, when w^e catch an 
Otsego Bass, whether we catch a Coregonus Otsego or a 
Coregonus Albus, or even a Salmo Otsego ? Is it per- 
fectly ascertained from a scientific point of view that we 
catch anything ? "Who does not know that a Tautog is a 
Blackfish, or would be materially instructed by hearing 
him called a Tautoga Americana? Scientific men vie 
w^ith one another in creating new names, the most use- 
less things in Christendom ; while sportsmen are happy 
to take them, the game, as they find them. The first are 
guilty of faults of commission, the latter of omission. 
The language of each is Greek to the other. 
The writer of these sketches, know^ing just sufiftcient 
Greek to be a sportsman, and yet able to translate with 
the help of a dictionary, offei'S, from the want of one 
more worthy, to conciliate all differences. His plan is 
to translate all terms that are translatable, and to omit 
altogether those that are not, trusting that they will 
never be missed. His intention at first was to write a 
noble work on natural history that wonld carry his name 
in letters of gold, as a pnblic reformer and benefactor, to 
latest posterity ; but finding, on reviewing his stores of 
information, that he knew but little on the subject, he 
was compelled to relinquish the idea. Being therefore 
nothing bnt a gentle angler, instead of instrncting the 
universe, he is content to amnse a small circle of lovers 
of sporting anecdotes, and, provided he receives it, will 
be content with their approval. As, however, one fool 
