66 C H A P T E R jj. 
Prefixed to the third volume of thd' 
'Frankfort edition of Gesner's Hijioria 
Animaliwriy in 1620, we find a letter from 
Dr.TuRNER, relating to theEnglifli fifhes^ 
which fufl^ciently proves, that he had no 
inconfiderable degree of knowledge in that 
part of zoology. He makes an apology for 
the imperfections of it, as being written from 
memory, and at a diftance from all his notes 
and obfervations. It confifts of three pages, 
in which he has briefly defcribed more than 
fifty fpecies ; and it feems to be intended 
principally to giveGESNER information on 
the Englilh names, which Turner has 
carefully noted, and often added the pro- 
vincial appellations. He takes in both fea 
and river fifli, and includes alfo the fcal- 
lop and the cockle. This letter was writ- 
ten from Weijfenburgh, and is dated Nov. i, 
1557. He undoubtedly purfued this branch 
of zoology much farther ; fince it appears 
from his dedication to the queen, that he 
intended *^ to fet out a book of the names 
*^ and natures of the fifhes of her majefty*s 
*^ realms.'* 
But the work which fccured his reputa- 
tion to poflerity, and entitled him to the 
charader 
