ADVERTISEMENT. 



• 



The extension of the scope of the Kational Museum during the past 

 few years, and the activity of the collectors sent out in its interests, 

 have caused a great increase in tlie amount of material in its possession. 

 Many of the objects gathered are of a novel and imijortant character, 

 and serve to throw a new light upon the study of nature and of man. 



The importance to science of i)rompt publication of descriptions of 

 this material led to the establishment, in 1878, of the present series of 

 publications, entitled "Proceedings of the United States National Mu- 

 seum," the distinguishing peculiarity of which is that the articles are 

 published in signatures as soou as matter sufficient to All sixteen pages 

 has been obtained and printed. The date of publication being i)laiuly 

 expressed in each signature, the ready settlement of questions of priority 

 is assured. 



The articles in this series consist: First, of papers prepared by the 

 scientitic corps of the National Museum ; secondly, of papers by others, 

 Ibnnded upon the collections in the National Museum; and, finally, of 

 interesting facts and memoranda from the correspondence of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. 



The Ijul'etins of the National Museum, the publication of which was 

 commenced in 1875, consist of elaborate papers (monographs of families 

 of animals, &c.), while the present series contemplates the prompt pub- 

 lication of freshly acquired facts relating to biology, anthropology, and 

 geology ; descriptions of restricted groups of animals and plants ; the 

 settlement of particular questions relative to the synonymy of species, 

 and the diaries of minor expeditions. 



This series of publications was commenced in 1878, Avith volume I, 

 under the title "Proceedings of the United States National Museum," 

 by the authority and at the expense of the Interior Department, and 

 under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The present volume, constituting the fifth of the series, has been pre- 

 pared under the editorial suiiervision of Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, curator 

 of the department of fishes. 



SPENCER F. BAIED, 

 Director of the TJ. S. National Museum. 



United States National Museum, 



Washington, June 20, 1883. 

 (u) 



