Sir C. Wyville Thomson's correspondence on the "Challenger" fishes 79 



If you undertake the Fishes the arrangement approved by the Treasury and by the Trustees 

 of the British Museum is the following. 



" That the fishes be sent to Dr. Giinther for determination and description and that Dr. 

 Gunther be requested to select a complete set for the British Museum including all unique 

 specimens and two specimens of all species of which there arc more than three; the remaining 

 duplicates to be returned to me for distribution with the sanction of their Lordships." 



There is one point with regard to the deep-sea fishes especially which I must mention. Mr. 

 Murray has had charge of these and has devoted special attention to the circumstances under 

 which they have occurred making careful notes in each case. No description would be complete 

 particularly in its bearings on physical geography without such information and 1 think it would 

 be very desirable that Mr. Murray should be associated with you in the description of this 

 section; this is a matter, however, which I must leave in your hands. 



I should wish all new species and all species which have not already been well figured in readily 

 accessible publications to be fully illustrated with any necessary anatomical details. Of course 

 I am prepared to defray the expense of illustration. I should like, if possible, to have some at 

 all events of the plates done during the next financial year and I would be greatly obliged to you 

 if you would, when you see the specimens, give me a rough estimate of the number of plates 

 which will be required and of the approximate costs. 



In the meantime, will you kindly let me know your views generally on the matter and when 

 you would wish the Fishes sent. 



I enclose a proof of a list of observing Stations and will send a corrected copy with the chart 

 shortly. 



I send a rough proof of one of the plates to give the size. 



Yours faithfully, 



C. Wyville Thomson 



Bonsyde 



Linlithgow, N.B* 



July 10, 1877 



Dear Sir: 



I do not think that there is the slightest objection to your publishing the Kerguelen Fishes in 



either way you prefer — Annals or Phil. Trans. The deep-sea series I should think of course to 



form a part — or volume if need be — of the official report. Would you be good enough to give 



me so far as you can a rough estimate of the amount which you expect to be able to undertake — 



plates and letter-press, during the current financial year, and the total expense for this year— 



the plates on the stone and the letter-press ready to go into the printer's hands. 



I am glad that you are finding so many new and interesting forms. I think you may depend 



upon the condition of the specimens being good, for certainly no care has been spared either in 



that or any other group of marine forms. 



1 am yrs faithfully, 



C. WvviLLE Thomson 



University of Edinburgh 



18 October, 1877 



Dear Sir: 



I now enclose a plate as a sample of size and style that we may have the whole series as nearly 

 uniform as possible. The tinting, the additional expense for which has been sanctioned by the 

 Stationery Office, gives a great advantage in brightening of the figures by the use of white. 



The exact size of the tinted portion of the plates, well within which the figures must be kept, 

 is 10 X 8 inches. It would be well to keep the lettering the same as on the sample plate, altering 



* Thomson's ancestral country home, where he was born and where he died The centre window 

 of the aose of the parish church of St. Michael of Linlithgow was done m 1SS5 in memor>^of Sir 

 WYvfLL? the ubject s a representation of the 104th Psalm. God's mamtcstation ot Hiniself mthe 

 Works of Creation, and in the lower parts of the window are illustrated the great and wide sea . 



