FISHES COLLECTED BY, BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 



77 



the affinities, of the daily and periodical migrations, or in 

 other words of the life histories of its inhabitants, they will be 

 able to solve questions connected with the origin, relationship, 

 modification and habits of denizens of the regions farthest 

 removed from sunlight in the greatest of the depths. 



The present collection includes few duplicates for compari- 

 sons, and the number of deep-sea types is hardly sufficient 

 for purposes of generalization; yet what were secured, locat- 

 ing by inference the feeding places of multitudes of other 

 forms usually found in their company, would at once establish 

 the importance of research in the localities from which they 

 were obtained. Beside the comparatively large number of 

 the better known fishes, the expedition was fortunate in being 

 able to secure a number of new and rare species, especially 

 so since the waters had already been pretty thoroughly trav- 

 ersed by ichthyologists. Determination of the species has 

 necessitated frequent comparisons with types collected by the 

 Cuban naturalist, Poey, around his island, types first made 

 known by descriptions in his great works on the natural his- 

 tory of Cuba. In passing it tmy be mentioned that in 

 repeated instances during the preparation of this report the 

 specimens have borne most favorable testimony to the excel- 

 lence of Professor Poey's contributions to ichthyological 

 literature. 



While all the parties interested in the expedition are to be 

 heartily congratulated upon its success, consideration of the 

 importance of what it has brought to light, and of what is yet 

 remaining, occasions sincere regret that it was not blessed 

 with a great deal more time and with more numerous and 

 more convenient appliances. The following is the list of the 

 fishes submitted for examination. 



Epinephelus guativere. 



Sen-anus gnat ivc re Cuv.,Val., 1828, Hist. Nat. Poiss.,11, 383. 



Young specimens. With ten or eleven small spots of black 

 scattered over the sides of the head behind the eyes, other- 

 wise uniform reddish brown. This fish is not to be identified 



