PRIZE ESSAY 



NATURAL AND ECONOMICAL HISTORY OF 

 THE FISHES, MARINE, FLUVIATILE, AND 

 LACUSTRINE, OF THE RIVER DISTRICT OF 

 THE FIRTH OF FORTH.* 



BY 



RICHARD PARNELL, M. D., F. R. S. E. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



In connection with the study of the species in Natural His- 

 tory which belong to any particular district of land and 

 water, some consideration is due to the ascertainable circum- 

 stances by which its capabilities, as an abode of animated 

 nature, can be determined. On this account, a short notice 

 of the general character of the river Forth and its estuary, 

 cannot be out of place as a preliminary to a paper on the 

 Fishes to be found there. A notice of this kind must ne- 

 cessarily be imperfect, not less owing to the brief space 

 that can be devoted to it, than to the investigation of the 

 facts becoming difficult, nearly in proportion to their inte- 

 rest and immediate bearing on the subject. And, indeed, 

 all that I can promise under this head is, rather to indicate 



" The Wernerian Natural History Society's honorary Premium of a 

 gold medal, value Ten Sovereigns, was adjudged to Dr Parnell for this essay, 

 1837. 



vol,, vii. L 



