No work on Natural History has hitherto been published 

 adapted to the special requirements of Anglers and others 

 who may wish to possess, in a compendious form, a fair 

 general outline of Ichthyology, with some account of the 

 Fresh- water Fish of the British Islands and the distinctions 

 by which they may be most easily recognized. 



This desideratum it is the object of the present volume 

 to supply. 



To materials drawn from the writings and private cor- 

 respondence of eminent naturalists and sportsmen have 

 been added the resrdts of much personal experience ; and 

 it is hoped that the practical form in which the subject 

 has been arranged, divested of all avoidable technicalities, 

 may induce lovers of fishing to acquire the rudiments at 

 least of the science a knowledge of which is so indispen- 

 sable to the fall enjoyment of their sport. 



Particular attention has been given to the history of the 

 Pike, and the various Salmon and Trout species, as being 

 preeminently the game fish of the country, and, in the 

 case of the Salmon, as representing in a national point of 

 view an important article of food. 



To Mr. Frank Buckland, Sir J. Emerson Tennent, and 

 Dr. Albert G-iinther, of the British Museum, the Author 

 is desirous of recording his sincere thanks for the kind 

 assistance he has received in the preparation of this work. 



Weybridge, 



July 1, 1863. 



