PREFACE, Vn 



he ha8 had ample opportunities of examining into the 

 natural history of the herring and its congeners ; but 

 he is conscious that many men enjoying these advantages 

 would have done more justice to the subject. It must 

 be remembered, however, that no such work has hitherto 

 been published written exclusively on the Herring, and 

 therefore the labour has been greater than if he had 

 followed the footsteps of another. 



The frontispiece represents the herring at the instant 

 it is taken from the sea. Several specimens were photo- 

 graphed by Tunny and by Moffat, for the outline and form. 

 A drawing was made from the best of them, on stone, 

 which was then printed in colours and metals, at the 

 lithographic press, by W. and A. K. Johnston. The 

 evanescent colours were copied from fish immediately 

 after being taken from the water ; so that the true 

 appearance of the herring, with all its brilliant iridescent 

 lustre, is faithfully represented. 



MaYVILLE, EDINBltEGH. 



