PREFACE. 



The new Fish Gallery of the Indian Museum, 

 which in old times was the Library of the Geological 

 Survey, has been modelled on Dr. Giinther's well- 

 known Introduction to the Study 0/ Pishes, and to that 

 admirable work I have much pleasure in acknowledg- 

 ing my essential obligations. 



In a country, like Eastern Bengal, where damp 

 and mould, as well as moth and rust, take hold of 

 everything in a way inconceivable by those whose 

 experience is confined to happier climates ; in a 

 country where even japan-varnished labels of 

 seasoned teak get mildewed : specimens can only 

 be safely exhibited as specimens, without any of 

 those attractive accessories that are needed to 

 transform them into studies of Nature. So that 

 the only attempt that has been made to lend veri- 

 similitude to the exhibits in this Gallery has been, 

 as far as possible, to hang the specimens by wires, 

 instead of fixing them on boards or stands, and to 

 paint them in their natural colours. 



The limitations imposed by climate have led me 

 to seek to add interest to the Gallery in other direc- 

 tions; as, for instance, by exhibiting dissections, 

 maps of geographical distribution, and models of 

 characteristic deep-sea fishes. 



These models are principally the work of the 

 Museum modeller, Panch Cowry Chatterjee. The 

 colouring of the specimens has been done by the 

 Museum draughtsman Abhoya Charn Chowdry. 



A. Alcock, Major, /.M.S., 

 Superintendent of the Indian Museum. 



Calcutta, 1899. 



