Recherches sur les Poissons Fossilcs. 315 



We take the present opportunity of placing before our rea- 

 ders, the views of Professor Agassiz, relative to the skin and 

 the scales of fishes ; because these views, together with some 

 of the terms employed in explaining them, must in future be 

 attended to in all scientific descriptions of fishes. This will 

 be an excuse for the introduction of what might otherwise be 

 thought tedious, and perhaps trifling details. 



With regard to the object of the work, we have conclud- 

 ed our present notice with an abstract of one of M. Agassiz's 

 orders of fishes, which we think will do more to make it un- 

 derstood, than the most lengthened remarks we could offer. 

 As we hope by degrees to afford a general analysis of this 

 work, we will not here anticipate the interesting results 

 it affords. It may be enough to say, that the following 

 minute investigation of the scales and skin of fishes, from 

 affording new means of identifying species, has led to the 

 most interesting and important results in Geology, has ex- 

 tended the science of Zoology, and led to the discovery of 

 entire creations, which were unknown to us before. Hence 

 it is, that in the study of nature, no object, however trifling it 

 may seem, is unworthy of attention. Every thing is full of 

 meaning, and when rightly contemplated, whatever we take 

 up, either a scale or a skeleton, is sure to lead to some great 

 principle connected with harmony and unity of design. 



Dermatology, and in 'particular the Scales of Fishes, as 

 compared to the analogous productions of the Skin in other 

 classes of the Animal Kingdom.* 



As the skeletons, the scales, and the teeth are the only 

 parts which are found in a fossil state, it is necessary in this 

 place to afford a sketch of the structure of these parts, and 

 to explain their peculiarities in different families of the class 

 of fishes. 



* Recherches sur les Poissons Fosslles. By M. Agassiz, chap. iv. vol. i. 



