11 



period, and even during the progress of the present Catalogue, a large 

 number of new preparations, obtained both by donation and purchase, 

 have been introduced, so that the Collection as it now stands, consists 

 of more than 1020 specimens. 



The present Volume was commenced in July 1857, many of the 

 Fishes and Lizards having been previously determined by the late 

 Conservator, Professor Owen. 



In consequence of the altered state of several of the specimens, 

 which had been preserved in spirit, considerable difficulty has been 

 found in arriving at a true determination of their specific characters ; 

 recourse therefore has been had to the actual comparison of the 

 specimens with those existing in spirit at the British Museum ; and it 

 is to the courtesy of Dr. J. E. Gray, Keeper of the Zoological Depart- 

 ment of that Institution, and to his able assistant, Mr. Edward Gerard, 

 that the Council are indebted for the names of many of the Fishes and 

 Snakes. 



The Cheiroptera or Bats, even in Mr. Hunter's time, formed a 

 large portion of the Series ; these also have been compared with other 

 specimens and accurately named by R. F. Tomes, Esq., a gentleman 

 who has paid considerable attention to the classification of these 

 remarkable animals. 



Many of the specimens now included in this Volume, besides 

 being of great rarity, are interesting from the fact of their being the 

 first of the kind brought to this country; amongst them may be 

 included many of the originals described and figured in 'White's 

 Journal ' and in ' The Zoology of New Holland ;' and more especially 

 those presented to Mr. Hunter by Sir Joseph Banks in 1792, which 

 had been collected by Dr. Solander and himself, in their voyage round 

 the world with Captain Cook. 



Amongst the Fishes may be particularly noticed the remarkable 

 specimen named Stylephorus chordatus, originally contained in the 

 Leverian Museum. It was purchased at no less a sum than Twenty 

 pounds at the sale of that Collection. 





