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INTRODUCTION. 



The accompanying Guide to the Collection of Fossil Fishes 

 in the British Museum of Natural History has been prepared 

 in the hope that it may prove useful alike to the geologist 

 and the palaeontologist. 



The Collection is exhibited in Gallery No. 6, the first of 

 the wide North-Eastern Galleries, leading from that in which 

 the Fossil Reptiles are placed. It contains thirty-two Table- 

 cases and about 260 feet linear of Wall-cases. 



Here are exhibited the finest collection of Fossil Fishes ever 

 brought together in any Museum. This Class was always well 

 represented in the Department, but it has lately received two 

 splendid additions in the famous collections of the Earl of 

 Enniskillen, D.C.L., F.R.S., from Florence Court, Enniskillen, 

 Ireland ; and that of the late Sir Philip de Malpas Grey- 

 Egerton, Bart., F.R.S. (Trustee of the British Museum), of 

 Oulton Park, Tarporley, Cheshire ; both obtained by purchase. 



These collections, together with those of the late Dr. Mantell, 

 F.R.S., and Mr. Frederick Dixon, F.G.S., previously acquired, 

 with other minor but valuable donations and purchases, now 

 include the majority of the figured types of Agassiz's British 

 Fossil Fishes from his great works, " Recherches sur les 

 Poissons Fossiles " (Neuchatel, 1833-43, 4to. and Atlas, folio) ; 

 and his " Monographie des Poissons Fossiles du Yieux Gres 

 Rouge, ou Systeme Devonien " (Neuchatel, 1844, text 4to. folio 

 plates) . -* 



