Holland: Kxi'kdiiion' ro Cicntual South America. 285 



the Amazons as far as Peru, (iiiiana and northern Brazil were ex- 

 plored in ])art by Richard and Robert Sclioniljurgk. 



Mr. llaseman. tra\eiing only with native guides, exceeded the 

 mileage of an>- of these large expeditions. Only one other collection 

 of imjiortance has been made uj'on the Ciuapor^, which Mr. Haseman 

 descended in iQOt). that of Natterer, obtained during the years from 

 1 825-1 830, and which is i)reser\ed in the K. K. Mof museum in Vienna. 

 No specimens from this mighty stream exist in any Xorlh .\merican 

 Museum except our own. 



The result of the labors of Mr. Haseman, so far as the collection 

 of fishes is concerned, is the addition to the Museum of many thousands 

 of specimens, representing, it is believed, almost all of the species 

 hitherto reported from the regions in which he traveled, and many 

 species which up to the present time have been unknown to science. 



Especial recognition is accorded by the w'riter in his official capacity 

 to Professor J. C. Branner for his kindness in advising Mr. Haseman 

 as to the manner of making his arrangements for travel in the Interior, 

 and to Dr. O. A. Derby, the Director of the Geological Survey of 

 Brazil, whose interest in the Expedition was enlisted by Dr. Branner, 

 and who in ways innumerable assisted Mr. Haseman, entering into 

 his plans with the greatest sympathy and enthusiasm. Without the 

 self-denying cooperation of Dr. Derby it is doubtful whether so great 

 success could have been achieved by Mr. Haseman. 



In the first paper from the pen of I\Tr. Haseman, which follows this 

 introductory note, he gives a general outline of his itinerary and an 

 account of the methods employed by him in collecting. To this Dr. 

 C. H. Eigenmann has appended a carefully prepared list of localities. 

 This paper wdll be followed by several others prepared by Mr. Hase- 

 man since his return to the Museum, embodying some observations 

 and conclusions made by him. In justice to Mr. Haseman it should 

 be stated that his conclusions were for the most part reached upon 

 the field, without access to the writings of others, who ha\c studied 

 the ichthyology of South America, and it should not be counted too 

 severely against him, if a detailed and critical study of the material 

 brought home by him should not in all respects sustain some of the 

 opinions he advances. 



The great assemblage of specimens made by Mr. Haseman has since 

 his return been accessed and classified in a preliminary manner by 

 himself working under the direction of Dr. Eigenmann, the Curator of 



