PREFACE. 



The- scope of the present work is to give in a concise 

 form an account of the principal facts relating to the 

 structure, classification, and life-history of Fishes. It 

 is intended to meet the requirements of those who are 

 desirous of studying the elements of Ichthyology ; 

 to serve as a book of reference to zoologists generally ; 

 and, jSnally, to supply those who, like travellers, have 

 frequent opportunities of observing fishes, with a 

 ready means of obtaining information. The article 

 on " Ichthyology," prepared by the late Sir J. Richard- 

 son for the eighth edition of the " Encyclopaedia 

 Britannica," is the only publication which has hither- 

 to partly satisfied such requirements ; and when I 

 undertook, some years ago, to revise, or rather rewrite 

 that article for the new edition of that work, it 

 occurred to me that I might at the same time prepare 

 a Handbook of Ichthyology, whilst reserving for the 

 article an abstract so condensed as to be adapted for 

 the wants of the general reader. 



From the general plan of the work I have only 

 departed in those chapters which deal with the 

 Geographical Distribution of Fishes. This is a sub- 

 ject which has never before been treated in a general 



