HISTORY OF ICHTHYOLOGY. 65 



reform ; and M. Cuvier's system, again, aided by his 

 high reputation and anatomical skill, made another 

 signal yet graduated advance towards a knowledge of 

 the true structure of this difficult class. Like all other 

 new systems, however, it was some time before this re- 

 ceived favour or adoption, at least in this country ; and 

 such will ever be the case when old ideas are to be cast 

 aside, new ones learned, and prejudices overcome. The 

 truth is, that no favour or support can be expected to new 

 views from old naturalists: we do not like to have our 

 long- cherished creeds disturbed ; and without, perhaps, 

 being aware of it, we naturally, and almost inevitably, be- 

 come strongly prejudiced in favour of what is old and 

 established. It is, therefore, not so much to the existing 

 as to the succeeding generation that we must look for a 

 candid and impartial judgment upon those innovations, 

 and which are in direct opposition to high authorities and 

 long-cherished views. And this, perhaps, is for the best. 

 Throughout nature, that which is most permanent is of 

 the slowest growth : the oak is only in its vigour, when 

 the surrounding plantations of poplars and larches are 

 withering into decay. 



(6l.) Additions to ichthyological science now be- 

 came so numerous, that we must altogether confine our 

 notices to such as are of leading importance. In this 

 view we must regard the most valuable account now 

 extant of the fishes of India, more especially those of the 

 Ganges, by Dr. Buchanan Hamilton. The descriptions, 

 which are clear and ample, are interspersed with many 

 original and interesting observations on affinities and 

 natural groups; while the figures, much superior to those 

 of Russell, are very neatly executed. A vast number of 

 new species are here first described. We have no he- 

 sitation in considering this work as the most original 

 and valuable that this country has yet produced ; and it 

 places its author, now dead, in the foremost ranks of this 

 science. The different artificial systems of MM. Blain- 

 ville, Risso, Pallas, Goldfuss, and several others, need not 

 here be mentioned ; they are not founded upon any ge- 



vol. 1. F 



