1^2 MEMOIRS OF 



by numerous and beautiful engravings, espe- 

 cially those made from the drawings of M. Lau- 

 rillard, on the anatomy of the perch, we find a 

 new feature. M. Cuvier becomes the historian 

 of that part of the science of which he treats ; 

 and nothing can be more clearly or impartially 

 given than the progress of Ichthyology, from the 

 first certain glimpses to be met with concerning 

 its existence ; and the place, the means, the 

 results, the influence of every labourer in the 

 cause, are set before us with wonderful precision 

 and order. But as this is, with tlie exception of 

 the Memoirs on Mollusca (published at various 

 times in the Annales du Museum, and now col- 

 lected into one quarto volume), tlie only work 

 of M. Cuvier devoted to one single branch of 

 natural history, it may be interesting to give an 

 idea how it is conducted. The history above- 

 mentioned forms, as it were, an introduction to 

 the whole, and concludes in these words : — 

 *' As for us, the only wish we can now form, is, 

 that the work whicli we have undertaken may 

 not be found unworthy, either of the illustrious 

 writers whose labours we seek to continue, or 

 of the aid and encouragement we have received 

 from so great a number of friends, and from the 

 patrons of natural history. Happy if we could 



