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REVIEWS AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS. 
I A History of British Fishes. By WILLIAM YARRELL, F. L. S. 
Illustrated by Wood-cuts of all the Species, and numerous Vig- 
nettes. 8vo. 2 vols. J. Von Voorst. London, 1835, 1836. 
" THE large and constant supply of excellent food obtained from 
the seas all round the coast by moderate labour and expense, and 
the employment afforded to a numerous and valuable class of men, 
who become not only good seamen but able pilots, since the suc- 
cessful exercise of their occupation depends on an intimate know- 
ledge of the nature of the ground surface, the situations of banks 
and channels, with the particular direction and force of tides and cur- 
rents, render the British fisheries, in many points of view, a branch 
of political economy of great national importance."* Such is Mr 
Yarrell's recommendation of his favourite pursuit, and we cordially 
agree with him in its importance. Ichthyology has ever been with 
us a favourite study ; in all its branches we delight, though we may 
plead guilty to a slight partiality for the " gentle art of the angle," as 
Isaac hath it, or, in other words, to the practical more than the theo- 
retical departments of the science. It is a study, moreover, which is 
better calculated to lead the mind to that of more exalted things than 
perhaps any other branch of the Vertebrata. The medium in which the 
creatures move is of difficult and uncertain access ; there is a mystery in 
ocean's depths which whets the innate curiosity of man ; yet, whether 
it is pursued on the open sea beach, by the banks of some noble lake 
or stream, or along the devious course of some wild and noisy torrent, 
there is a serenity of mind induced favourable for meditation, lead- 
ing from the bright and glittering prey, the object of the sports- 
man's ardour, to the contemplation of its Maker ; and the thoughts 
almost invariably turn to the tenants of more ample waters, the my- 
riads of creatures, 
Strange forms, resplendent colours, kinds unnumbered, 
With swords, saws, spiral horns, or hooked fangs, 
* Mr Yarrell's Preface. 
