INTRODUCTION. 53 



of taking them, rude drawings were preserved of 

 the more important kinds. They were perpe- 

 tuated on the coinage of the countries, and bold 

 but characteristic sculptures have been preserved, 

 from which many of the species in ancient use 

 can be traced. Such may be said to be the 

 commencement of Ichthyology, and so also it 

 may be said to have progressed until the works 

 of the illustrious Aristotle threw a light over 

 every branch of Natural History, and advanced 

 this one to a state of comparative arrangement. 

 From this man of universal observation was 

 derived almost all the information the ground- 

 work, at least, of all the works on Ichthyology 

 till the seventeenth century ; and even since this 

 period he has been much relied on. Eondoletius 

 and Salvianus gave figures of many species, 

 those of the latter often very correct, and, at 

 the same time, exhibiting curious specimens of 

 engraving. But Willoughby and Eay were per- 

 haps the first to attempt a methodical arrange- 

 ment, founded upon structure ; and it was onlj> 

 after their time that the science and its promoters 

 became more generally known. Artedi, a name 

 dear to every ichthyologist, with Linnaeus, and 

 his numerous pupils, pursued it in its systems; 

 Pennant and Pallas studied it with enthusiasm, 

 and were assisted in their knowledge of species 



