COLLECTION OF FISH. 4 2 ^ 



the forms of different families, which forms 

 are more varied and more singular than in the 

 reptiles; and noticing the rarest species, and 

 those which are most deserving of attention 

 either on account of their singularity or their 

 utility. 



Although this collection is extremely numerous, 

 it is not convenient for those who are beginning 

 the study of ichthyology. The objects cannot 

 be all placed at the proper distance from the eye ; 

 and of one genus, which sometimes compre- 

 hends a hundred species and two or three hun- 

 dred individuals, we cannot at first sight dis- 

 tinguish those which present the most essential 

 characters. The greater number of the speci- 

 mens are preserved inspirits of wine, in which 

 they may be seen very well, but cannot be exa- 

 mined without holding in the hand the bottle 

 which contains them. As the Museum ought to 

 facilitate the study of the elements as well as 

 that of the details, a selection of one individual 

 of each genus has been made from the general 

 collection; this, as it is arranged and named 

 after the method published by M. Carrier, pre- 

 sents the genera and sub-genera which have the 

 greatest affinity with each other. It occupies 

 twelve large frames, placed in the passage to the 

 great room. All the specimens are dried with 



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