gukther's catalogue of fishes. 28 



developed in the freshwaters of the Ethiopian as well as in those of 

 the Neotropical region. 



The whole of Dr. G-iinther's fifth volume contains 1005 species, 

 against 492 in the corresponding portions of Cuvier and Valen- 

 ciennes' work. Of these 849 are considered to be undoubtedly 

 valid specimens. 



In conclusion we heartily wish Pr. Giinther health and strength 

 sufficient to carry his great and important labours to completion — of 

 his industry, and of his ability (in other ways) to finish what he has 

 begun we have no doubt. It is no small task, as our readers must 

 acknowledge, that has already been accomplished — that of naming, 

 cataloguing, and describing some five or six thousand species ; and 

 those who know the energetic author of the " Catalogue of Tishes" 

 are well aware, that these volumes are by no means the only pro- 

 ducts of Dr. Giinther's laborious industry during the last six years. 

 The work, however, is now more than half accomplished, and we trust 

 that another five years will see the " Catalogue of Fishes" complete. 

 Its efiect upon the study of Ichthyology will in all probability be very 

 remarkable. AVe cannot suppose that more than a fourth part of 

 the fishes now in existence are yet known to science, nay, perhaps, 

 not more than a tenth part, for of many parts of the world the 

 Pisci-fauna is almost unknown. The fact is that the study of these 

 creatures has been hitherto greatly obstructed by the want of a con- 

 venient book of reference, wherein what is at present kno^vn is sum- 

 marized and brought together. The publication of Dr. Giinther's 

 Catalogue will therefore, no doubt, give a great and immediate 

 impetus to the study of fishes — indeed we may say in relation to 

 the published portions that it has already done so. Its imme- 

 diate efiect will be in all probability an increase of at least ten per 

 cent, in the number of described species of this class of Vertebrates. 

 It has already operated well for our National Collection in inciting 

 the accession of a very large number of valuable additions to this 

 department, as will be seen by reference to the long lists of donations 

 and purchases given at the commencement of each volume of the 

 catalogue. It has also been of the greatest service to the collection 

 in another way — we mean in enabling selections to be made out of 

 series offered for sale. Until a collection has been properly named 

 and catalogued there is of course perpetual risk of acquiring dupli- 

 cates when new purchases are made, or of rejecting new specimens. 

 As the catalogue advances this risk diminishes, and the means for 



