For ichthyology it was fortunate that two men at least, Bloch and Lacepede, made it a subject of prolonged original research.
We have only to compare this system with that of Linnaeus if we wish to measure the gigantic stride made by ichthyology during the intervening period of seventy years.
The fish fauna of the different parts of the world will have to be dealt with separately, and it is in this direction that descriptive ichthyology is most likely to progress.
A new era in the history of ichthyology commences with Ray, Willughby and Artedi, who were the first to recognize the true principles by which the natural affinities of animals should be determined.
The work of the principal students of ichthyology in the period between Ray and Lacepede was chiefly systematizing and describing; but the internal organization of fishes also received attention from more than one great anatomist.
Your idea of an illustrated American ichthyology is admirable.
The enumeration of other workers in the great field of ichthyology must assume something of the form of a catalogue.
But in former days the evidence of fossil ichthyology was by some read otherwise.
Other facts and conclusions of importance have been contributed by various persons with whomichthyology has been an incident rather than a matter of central importance.
In the earlier history of ichthyology much confusion resulted from the misconception of the terms "high" and "low.
Usually varieties in ichthyology count as species or as nothing.
The science of ichthyology represents our knowledge of fishes, derived from varied experiences of man, tested by methods or instruments of precision and arranged in orderly sequence.
My experience on the subject of fossil ichthyology is that it is not likely to become exhausted in our day.
Families inichthyology were first clearly recognized and defined by Cuvier.
More however might be done towards elucidating the ichthyology of the ancients than has hitherto been attempted.
Were I to treat of the ichthyology of the ancients, it might be necessary; but as that is not the case, I shall only quote such parts of it as have been employed by Rondelet and others to prove that they were our carp.
The family of Polymixiidæ, or barbudos, is one of the most interesting in Ichthyology from its bewildering combination of characters belonging to different groups.
Even so difficult and foreign-looking a word as ichthyology seems to be made clear by the statement that it is the name of the study in which one learns about fish.
