36 MEMOIR OF RONDELET. 



therefore, in regard to such, to derive their informa- 

 tion chiefly from Rondelet. This circumstance 

 renders his work useful even in the present day, 

 when it might have been supposed to be completely 

 superseded by subsequent publications. Thus we 

 find Cuvier, in his latest work on fishes, very often 

 referring to his figures, and citing him as a classical 

 authority on the fishes of the Mediterranean. Of 

 the genus Lichia, for example, he states that all the 

 three species have been well characterised by Ron- 

 delet, and the distinctive marks he specifies are 

 nearly the same as those given by that author. 

 Many other similar instances occur, indicating the 

 value which the most able ichthyologist of modern 

 times set on the labours of Rondelet. 



The order he follows, in the descriptive part of 

 his work, is thus noticed by himself: " In giving 

 the history of each fish, we first mention the names, 

 whether Greek, Latin, or French, particularly speci- 

 fying those used in the south of France, and in the 

 provinces. To these we sometimes add the Italian, 

 German, and Spanish names. A figure of the whole 

 body then follows, and a representation of the parts, 

 both external and internal ; for from these the marks 

 are principally derived by which fishes are distin- 

 guished from each other. An account of the move- 

 ments and manners is subjoined to these ; the use 

 of the fish, whether for food or medicine, is then 

 explained. Sometimes an account is given of the 

 mode of fishing; finally, the mode of preparation 

 for food, and the variety of its properties in that 



