HISTORY OF ICHTHYOLOGY. 55 



menclature of antiquity, but for the characteristic, al- 

 though often rude, accuracy of their figures. Those of 

 Rondeletius, more especially, are in several instances 

 more faithful than many that are inserted in our modern 

 publications ; and to this day they continue to be quoted 

 as authorities by our best writers. The credulity of the 

 age, indeed, was in some degree shared by these twin- 

 kling stars of light in the returning dawn of knowledge; 

 for Rondeletius has left us pictorial representations of 

 certain cunning fabrications, called the monk-fish, the 

 bishop-fish, and the sea lion. It is singular that these three 

 fathers of science flourished at the very same period — all 

 three having published their works between the years 

 1553 and 1558. They seem, however, to have left no 

 disciples ; for during more than a century ichthyology 

 appears to have lain dormant, until, in 1686, it was again 

 revived by the labours of our illustrious countryman, 

 Willughby, the patriarch of zoological science in Britain, 

 in conjunction with his tutor and companion, the learned 

 and pious Ray. When it is considered that no less than 

 1 86 folio copper-plates form the pictorial volume of Wil- 

 lughby, in an age when natural history had not a twen- 

 tieth number of the votaries who now profess to be so, we 

 cannot but feel surprised at what may be called the 

 Ci spirit" of the booksellers of that age, in undertaking 

 the publication of a work which none of our modern 

 bibliopoles would think of venturing upon. This vo- 

 lume is altogether not only highly curious, but even 

 valuable. The figures are very unequal, since it seems 

 to have been intended to comprise a complete collection 

 of all known fish : hence those found in the volumes of 

 Rondeletius, Saiviani, Marcgrave, &c. are faithfully co- 

 pied ; but these are interspersed with a large number 

 of original designs, many of which are drawn and etched 

 with a degree of accuracy, spirit, and effect, which it 

 would be even now difficult to surpass.* Ray's Systematic 



* Among these, the reader may refer to tab. E. 2. F. i. 3, 4, 5, 6, &c. 

 The holibut {Jig. 6.), is uncommonly fine, and the flatness of the sole (F. 

 fig. 1.) is inimitably expressed. 



E 4 



