1068 Fishes. 



Notice of the Fauna of Norfolk* 



This is a book after our own heart : it breathes the true poetry of 

 Nature. We believe it is not considered by any means essential to 

 read a book previously to reviewing it ; but we began our task with a 

 light heart, and found it impossible to lay the volume aside until we 

 had perused it from end to end. This is what we consider a test of 

 merit; for those books which are just opened, glanced at, and then, 

 without a feeling of regret, laid by for some more convenient opportu- 

 nity, are very often laid by for ever. 



The little publication exactly resembles — and we know no higher 

 praise — a series of extracts from ' The Zoologist.' There are many 

 passages that Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Waterton, Mr. Bury or Mr. Knox 

 might rejoice to have written. The best of these passages relate to 

 birds ; but as our pages will shortly be occupied with a somewhat 

 more complete and elaborate account of the Norfolk birds, we refrain 

 from quoting this portion of Mr. Lubbock's work, lest we forestall the 

 information about to be laid before our readers in an original form. 

 In the mean time we cordially recommend the work to naturalists, 

 assuring them that while it contains abundance of true philosophy and 

 true science, it is totally free from the jargon now so commonly impos- 

 ed on the world under these honorable but much-belied appellations. 



The following extracts about fishes will be read with interest by 

 every naturalist. 



" In the present day, when all articles of food are dear and increasing in price, 

 perhaps it would be wise to rely more than we do upon the neglected inhabitants of our 

 fresh waters. The ' Quarterly Review ' has lately put forth a stroDg article upon this 

 subject, and a little consideration will convince any one, that fresh-water fish might 

 with care, as to continual supply, be made of far greater utility than they are at pre- 

 sent amongst us. On many parts of the continent a river seems to be regarded as a 

 cornucopia — every one lacking dinner looks therein for it, and with great success. In 

 that spot of classic memories, Vaucluse, where the fountain gushing from the rock be- 

 comes at once a river, all the peasantry appeared to rely upon its waters for food ; here 

 was seen one man groping in the bank for crawfish — here another taking up his 

 eel line ; children were everywhere busily employed in catching minnows for eel bait. 

 On going into a cottage and asking for something to eat, the good woman explained 

 that she had nothing, but called to her husband who was digging close by. He went 

 down to the stream, walked in, lifted up a net somewhat resembling an English bow- 

 net, found nothing ; waded down stream about ten yards, took up another of these en- 



* Observations on the Fauna of Norfolk. By The Rev. Richard Lubbock, Rec- 

 tor of Eccles. Charles Muskett, Norwich : Longmans, London. 1845. 



