VI PREFACE. 



other classes in natural history, as well as to the Quadrupeds 

 and Birds. It is certain that he had once contemplated pro- 

 ducing a work on BRITISH FISHES : but he had abandoned 

 the design before his lamented death in 1828. Some few 

 engravings of British Fishes were executed by him with his 

 usual success, impressions of which were occasionally to be 

 seen in the possession of his most intimate friends. 



The time that has now elapsed since his death leaves but 

 little room to hope that this branch was ever so far prose- 

 cuted by him as to be made available in the present day, or 

 that an object so desirable as a work on BRITISH FISHES 

 executed to any extent by him can now be expected. 

 Could it have been ascertained that any such intention still 

 existed at Newcastle, the present work would never have 

 been attempted. 



An extensive collection of BRITISH FISHES in the pos- 

 session of the author, containing upwards of one hundred and 

 sixty species, to increase which no opportunity has been neg- 

 lected during several past years, and the cordial assistance of 

 some of the best naturalists from Scotland to the Land's End, 

 are among the advantages the author of this work has enjoyed 

 to assist him in his undertaking. 



To Mr. Couch of Polperro, the indefatigable ichthyologist 

 of Cornwall, the author is indebted for several examples of 

 the most rare species found on the Cornish coast, for the use 

 of a large and valuable collection of characteristic coloured 

 drawings, and the whole of his manuscript notes. 



W. J. Broderip, Esq. Vice- President of the Zoological 

 and Geological Societies, having in his possession an inter- 

 leaved copy of Mr. Donovan's Natural History of British 

 Fishes, which formerly belonged to the late Colonel Mon- 

 tagu, the author of the Ornithological Dictionary and Tes- 

 tacea Britannica, containing voluminous notes in his own 



