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D CRITICAL ANALYSIS. 



I. — A History of British Fishes. By William Yaiirell, F. L. S. 

 Illustrated by Wood-cuts of all the Species, and numerous Vig- 

 nettes. 8vo. 2 vols. J. Von Voorst. London, 1835, 1836. 



" The large and constant supply of excellent food obtained from 

 the seas all round the coast by moderate labour and expense, and 

 the employment afforded to a numerous and valuable class of men, 

 who become not only good seamen but able pilots, since the suc- 

 cessful exercise of their occupation depends on an intimate know- 

 ledge of the nature of the ground surface, the situations of banks 

 and channels, with the particular direction and force of tides and cur- 

 rents, render the British fisheries, in many points of view, a branch 

 of political economy of great national importance."* Such is Mr 

 Yarrell's recommendation of his favourite pursuit, and we cordially 

 agree with him in its importance. Ichthyology has ever been with 

 us a favourite study ; in all its branches we delight, though we may 

 plead guilty to a slight partiality for the " gentle art of the angle," as 

 Isaac hath it, or, in other words, to the practical more than the theo- 

 retical departments of the science. It is a study, moreover, which is 

 better calculated to lead the mind to that of more exalted things than 

 perhaps any other branch of the Vertebrata. The medium in which the 

 creatures move is of difficult and uncertain access ; there is a mystery in 

 ocean's depths which whets the innate curiosity of man ; yet, whether 

 it is pursued on the open sea beach, by the banks of some noble lake 

 or stream, or along the devious course of some wild and noisy torrent, 

 there is a serenity of mind induced favourable for meditation, lead- 

 ing from the bright and glittering prey, — the object of the sports- 

 man's ardour, — to the contemplation of its Maker ; and the thoughts 

 almost invariably turn to the tenants of more ample waters, the my- 

 riads of creatures, 



Strange forms, resplendent colours, kinds unnumbered, 

 With swords, saws, spiral horns, or hooked fangs, 



* Mr Yarrell's Preface. 



