240 Dr. A. Gunther on a 



British Museum a collection of freshwater fishes made at that 

 place, I have thought it Avorthy of a separate report, as it 

 contains an unusually large proportion of new species or such 

 as are but imperfectly known. Their number would have 

 been still larger if a great part of the collection had not un- 

 fortunately perished during transit to Europe. Only too fre- 

 quently specimens are sent off by collectors before they are 

 thoroughly saturated with strong spirits ; and the inevitable 

 consequence is that they are softened by internal decomposition 

 and knocked to pieces by the rough treatment to which 

 packages are subjected during a long journey. All specimens 

 collected in a hot climate and placed in spirits ought to be re- 

 tained by the collector for at least four weeks before they are 

 sent off, and the spirits changed two or three times. 



I have included in the following list only a few species 

 obtained from other sources, which are therefore specially men- 

 tioned. Where no locality is given, the species is from 

 Shanghai, and collected by Mr. Swinhoe. 



1. Siniperca chuatsi^ Basil. 



2. Siniperca chuantsi^ Basil. 

 This species has a much lower body than the first. 



3. Percalabrax japonicus^ C. & V. 

 ^' 12 1 i3rf4. A. gig. 

 Prffioperculum Avith four or five spinous hooks. 



4. TIapalogenys nigripinnis^ Rich. 



5. Dentex hypsehsoma^ Blkr, 



6. Cottus polluXj sp. n. 

 D. 9 1 19. A. 13. 



Skin smooth. No spines on the head, except on the prae- 

 operculum (which is armed with a small, fiat, and slightly 

 curved spine) and on the suboperculura, the spine of which is 

 still smaller. Lateral lin^C reaching to the caudal fin. The 

 vent is conspicuously nearer to the root of the caudal than to 

 the end of the snout. First dorsal very low. Origin of the 

 anal opposite to the fourth dorsal ray. The ventrals extend 

 somewhat beyond the vent. In general appearance and in 

 colour very similar to Cottus gohio. 



Two specimens, 4| inches long, were found by Captain 

 St. John in a river at Otarranai, Japan. 



