REPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA FISHES. xxxvii 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FISH-FAUNA OF THE DEEP SEA. 



If, as has been done in the present Eeport, all species which hitherto have been found 

 at a depth of 100 fathoms are included in the deep-sea fauna, so great an admixture 

 of surface forms is admitted, that the characteristic features of abyssal fauna are 

 obscured. We obtain a more correct idea of its constitution if we take into consideration 

 only such forms as have been found from 300 fathoms downwards ; eliminating from 

 the total number of 385 species enumerated in this Report all which do not descend to 

 300 fathoms, 155 in number. This leaves 230 true abyssal forms. 



