CHAPTER IV. 
COLLECTING AND PRESERVING FISHES AND REPTILES. 
Section I. Fishes, — -Very many are they who at the 
present day follow in the footsteps of the ^‘Father of all 
Anglers,” the good Izaak Walton, concerning the mere 
sport of angling ; but, alas ! there are few who, like him, 
look with contemplative minds upon the great works of 
Nature j for the worthy Izaak was quite a naturalist, after 
his fashion, and loved exceedingly to prate, in his quaint 
style, of the wondrous birds, beasts, and fishes of which 
he had seen or heard. Few, indeed, are they who, al- 
though some of their happiest moments are spent by the 
side of the clear mountain brook, with rod in hand, see in 
the beautiful trout, that they with exultation draw from 
its sparkling home, anything more than a good dinner on 
the morrow. 
Yet there are a few earnest naturalists who love to 
study the finny tribes as they ought to be studied. 
Indeed, the science of Ichthyology can claim among its 
most earnest students the greatest naturalist in our land. 
Those who live inland do not possess the advantages of 
making as extensive a collection of fishes as those who 
reside upon the sea-shore ; nevertheless, they can all do 
something for this branch of natural history. 
In collecting fishes the instruments generally used are 
nets and hooks and lines j with these try and secure every 
variety that can. be found. Many species can be secured 
from the markets, where fishes are exposed for sale, by 
picking out the specimens that are needed. The best 
way to preserve fishes is to put them into alcohol. All 
