BRITISH FRESH-TTATER FISH. 47 



sportsman more readily to identify his fish, and for the 

 treatment of any supposed new species or varieties, may 

 probably not be considered superfluous. 



First, then, upon the capture of any such specimen the 

 best and simplest course is immediately to preserve it, 

 according to the directions given in the Appendix, when 

 it can be examined and pronounced upon at leisure, 

 — dried or stuffed fish being comparatively useless for 

 scientific purposes. If, however, from any cause this 

 should be impracticable, the next best thing is a correct 

 description in writing; and to give this with sufficient 

 accuracy to make it of value to science — to render it, in 

 short, such that a naturalist shall be justified in pronounc- 

 ing with certainty thereon — all that is required is the clear 

 comprehension of a few simple facts, and the power of 

 recording them in an intelligible form. 



The first point for observation is the nature of the fins — 

 whether generally soft and flexible as in the Salmon and 

 Carp, or hard and spiny as in the Perch : upon this it de- 

 pends in which of the two principal Divisions of Bony Fishes 

 — Acanthopterygii, or Malacopterygii * — the species should 

 be placed. This distinction is so obvious and remarkable, 

 that when once mentioned it cannot be overlooked by the 

 least careful observer ; and as to one or other of these divi- 

 sions belongs every fish, without exception, of which the 

 sportsman takes cognizance, its importance is evident. 



The spiny-finned fishes contain fifteen Families, but no 

 * See page 36. 



