HIS NATURAL HISTORY— ALEXANDER iii 



and modes of capture. Of the hundred and ten only some 

 fifty fish can be scientifically identified ; of which, all save 

 six come from the sea. 



This figure of about one hundred and ten speaks wonders 

 for his industry and knowledge. Even after the lapse of 1800 

 years separating him from the sixteenth century, the list of 

 Mediterranean fishes compiled by Belon comprises but a hundred 

 or so, and by Rondolet but some one hundred and sixty names. 

 Risso, writing as late as 1810, furnishes no more than three 

 hundred and fifteen, of which he asserts that eighty-eight 

 had never been previously described. 



Not unnaturally, this industry and this knowledge caused 

 our author to be at Athens not only a stumbhng-block unto 

 the wise, but "a very wonder unto fools," as the comedians 

 said, who fastened on an occasional lapse, such as his theory 

 that the whole race of shell fish generate without connection. 



The Natural History nevertheless will always remain a 

 monument of extraordinary dihgence and mental vigour, 

 especially when we bear in mind that he seemingly lacked any 

 antiseptic preparation for the preservation of specimens. 

 His pre-eminence of merit is indicated by the fact that of all 

 the Greek and Latin authors he approximates nearest to some 

 idea of zoological system. 



And yet this father of science and this founder of logic 

 makes a direct personal appeal to us as a man very human in 

 his life and tastes. Epicurus, " that most truthful of men," 1 

 alleges that, when young, Aristotle went the pace, and squandered 

 his patrimony in good living and other pleasant dehghts. In 

 addition to his love for jewellery and personal adornment we 

 discover him as a great connoisseur of beautiful silver, of 

 which he bequeathed over seventy rare bowls. He ranks in 

 opsophagy as an epicure of the highest order. 



It is curious to note that in Aristotle, who apparently 

 was famiUar with most, if not all, of the then existent methods, 

 no mention, as far as I can recall, occurs of actual fishing, save 

 his story of the fight and escape of a big Glanis. 



He owed his knowledge largely to his intercourse with 



1 Athen., VIII. 50. 



