EDITOEIAL NOTE. 



The Report on the Deep-Sea Fishes, by Dr. Albert Giinther, F.R.S., occupies 

 the whole of the present Volume. This Report, which forms Part LVII. of 

 the Zoological Series of Reports on the Scientific Results of the Expedition, 

 extends to nearly 400 pages, with 73 Lithographic Plates and several 

 woodcuts. 



The Report comprises two Appendices, the first by Professor H. N. 

 Moseley, F.R.S., on the structure of the Peculiar Organs on the Head of 

 Ipnops, the second by R. von Lendenfeld, Ph.D., on the structure of the 

 Phosphorescent Organs op Fishes. 



With reference to the depths at which the specimens of Deep-Sea 

 fish were captured I desire to repeat here a statement so frequently made 

 in connection with these publications. During the cruise the naturalists 

 recorded in each case, as faithfully as possible, the depth to which the dredge 

 or trawl was sent down. The animals may have been captured at the 

 bottom, or in any of the intermediate layers between surface and bottom ; in 

 many cases the structure, colour, or modifications of organs, and the contents 

 of the stomach, furnish clear indications as to whether the animal lived 

 at the bottom or on the surface, and on such matters the specialists in each 

 group are the best judges. In this Report, therefore, the depths given for 

 the specimens show that Dr. Giinther regards the specimens, with a few 

 exceptions which are mentioned in the body of his Report, as having been 

 captured at the recorded depth. 



This exceedingly valuable and comprehensive Report does not refer to 



