52 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



smaller, less conspicuous species evidences the fact that methods of collecting were 

 employed such as are known only to the trained naturalist. In this way many 

 specimens of more than usual scientific interest were secured. 



The fish-fauna of the Philippines has been but little studied. Enough is known, 

 however, to show that it is an exceedingly rich one. Not only is it rich in species, 

 but many of the species are abundant in individuals; indeed, many species occur in 

 great prodigality. 



Although the native methods employed in the fisheries are primitive, the methods 

 of preparing the products of the fisheries for use equally primitive, and methods of 

 preserving the products are practically unknown, nevertheless fish food forms a 

 large and important item in the diet of the inhabitants of the Philippines. The 

 natural food resources of Philippine waters are believed to be enormous, embracing 

 not only a great number of fishes, but many species of edible mollusks, crustaceans, 

 and alga?, which as yet are scarcely recognized in the islands as fit for food. The 

 development of these resources is a matter worthy the best efforts of the govern- 

 ment. Effort should first be directed toward determining what the resources really 

 are — what species of fishes and other aquatic animals and what aquatic plants occur, 

 how abundant each is, its geographic distribution among the islands, and its life 

 history, including its food and its enemies. The present paper is a contribution to 

 that end. 



The collections upon which this report is based embrace a total of nearly 2,500 

 specimens, representing 89 families, 139 genera, and 296 species, of which 2 genera 

 and 22 species are believed to be new, and are here described. 



It has not been deemed necessary to give full descriptions of any species except 

 those believed to be new. Ordinarily attention has been called only to those char- 

 acters which will prove useful in identifying the species. All the specimens bear 

 tin-tag numbers, and these are printed in the report in order that each specimen may 

 be fulh' authenticated. The first series of specimens, including the types of all the 

 new species, is deposited in the U. S. National Museum. The first duplicate series 

 has been sent to the government museum at Manila. The second duplicate series 

 has been deposited in the museum of Stanford University, and the third in the 

 reserve series of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 



The vernacular names, printed in italics, are those furnished by the collectors. 

 Only such synonymy is given as is necessary to connect this report with works which 

 a student of Philippine fishes must consult in studying these species. Usually the 

 first reference to any particular publication is made complete; subsequent refer- 

 ences to the same publication are made more brief. In synonymy the name of the 

 locality from which each species was originally described is printed in heavy-face 

 type; other locality references are printed in ordinary type and are in parentheses. 



Two editions of the Histoire Naturelle des Poissons by Cuvier and Valenciennes 

 were consulted, the octavo edition of 22 volumes and the quarto edition, also of 22 



Note. — We take this opportunity to thank Prof. Charles J. Pierson, of Auburn, Nebraska, for the. use of 

 his held notes, and Messrs. Edmund Lee Goldsborough and Howard Walton Clark, of the Bureau of Fisheries, 

 for assistance of various kinds in the preparation of this report. The accompanying illustrations an- from 

 drawings by Mr. A. II. Baldwin and Miss Annie Swift Buckelew. Those made by Miss Buckelew are figures 

 11. 12, 15. and 17. 



