BULLETIN 



MUSEUM OE COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY, 



CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U. S. A. 



March 1, 1SG3. 



In order to leave no doubt respecting the authority of the 

 names adopted in our collections, as well as to explain various 

 changes in the nomenclature of the specimens sent to other 

 institutions by the Museum of Comparative Zoology, rendered 

 necessary by the careful investigation to which they were sub- 

 mitted while arranging our own series, it is proposed from time 

 to time to issue a Bulletin, calling attention to the evidence 

 upon which the names adopted may rest. This will render the 

 duplicates available for exchanges before a full account of the 

 results thus reached can be published. Although the responsi- 

 bilitv is left to those who may sign them, it is proper that I 

 should add, that, in almost every instance, I have satisfied 

 myself, by a direct revision, of the accuracy of the identifica- 

 tions. 



Much important scientific work has been stored up with the 



specimens in the galleries of the Museum, during the past years, 



and left unpublished ; but, in order to give proper credit to 



all those connected with our progress, it is recorded in this 



Bulletin with the date at which the investigation was made, 



though no claim of priority is thus intended. It is merely a 



matter of justice to those concerned in the arrangement of the 



collections. 



L. AGASSIZ, 



Director of tlte Museum,. 



