10 INTRODUCTION. 



Mr. AUDUBON, so well known to every American, has explor- 

 ed the air, and opened to the world an enlarged and faithful 

 picture of the feathered songsters of the Western Heir.isphere. 

 His History of Quadrupeds, also, promises for him a fame 

 equal to that accorded any who have preceded him in this 

 department. 



But amidst all these researches, but little, comparatively 

 speaking, has been done in the Natural History of Fishes. 

 The boundless ocean, with its vast waters, and numberless 

 tributaries, remains unexplored : and the fact, that scientific 

 inquirers of all ages, have neglected to penetrate so far into 

 the philosophy of this branch of Nature's productions as into 

 many other departments of her wonderful and deep-hidden 

 mysteries, is certainly a source both of surprise and regret. 



The objects that continually present themselves in our 

 every day relations, naturally invite the attention and awaken 

 an interest for the wonderful creations of Nature. Hence we 

 have a history of Birds, Beasts, Insects; works on Botany, 

 Geology, and Astronomy ; but as yet no standard treatise on 

 Ichthyology. The dangers attending navigation, are by the 

 aid of steam power becoming daily less formidable; and 

 where but few could formerly be tempted, thousands now are 

 induced to view the sublimity of Nature on the great deep, 

 and will consequently be led to study the natural history of 

 its inhabitants. 



Linnaeus has defined nearly 400 species of fishes in the 

 Old World, while our own country, possessing as it does great 

 advantages over any other, cannot boast of a single treatise on 

 a subject so fraught with interest to the admirer of Nature. 



