PREFACE. 
In the work on British Fishes now presented to the 
public, it has been the endeavour of the Author to give such 
S’- representation of each of the species which has at any time 
been met with in the British Islands, either as straggling 
Visitors or more permanent residents, as shall render it easy 
to be recognised by any one; as also to assign it its 
proper place in a scientific arrangement; and of these recorded 
in our volumes it is to be observed that there are several 
■which are now for the first time noticed as having been 
obtained in Britain. 
A coloured likeness is for the most part necessary for this 
purpose; and those which are now presented to the notice of 
the reader, with very few exceptions, that are particularly 
pointed out, possess the advantage of having been derived 
from examples that had been but newly drawn from their 
native element, with their native colours fresh upon them; 
while those species which from their rarity could not be 
procured under such circumstances, are produced in such a 
manner as not to be disguised by imaginary adorning. The 
descriptions also have been carefully attended to, and with 
the plates will leave little to be desired in illustration of this 
portion of the subject. 
