VIII . PREFACE. 



is made to each original description of supposed new species or genera, 

 to the descriptions in Dr. Gi'mther's "Catalogue of the Fishes of the 

 British Museum," to Jordan & Gilbert's " Synopsis of the Fishes of North 

 America," and to other works in which special information is given. 

 The limits of the present work prevent us from giving a bibliography 

 of the works consulted. In general, we have tried to examine every 

 paper which throws light on American Ichthyology. 



In conclusion, we may say that no one can realize the imperfections 

 of this work more keenly than we do. We offer no excuse for inaccu- 

 racies and errors, but it is fair to say that, throughout the four years in 

 which this work was written, both its authors have found their ener- 

 gies crowded to the utmost by executive work to which systematic 

 ichthyology bears no relation. Had it not been so, this book would 

 have come somewhat nearer our own ideals, and especially would it be 

 more exact and detailed on the side of Osteology, Embryology, and Pal- 

 aeontology. As it is, we trust that the work will be a useful representa- 

 tion of the present state of our knowledge of the fauna in question. 



DAVID STARR JORDAN, 

 BARTON WARREN EVERMANN. 



LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, 



PALO ALTO, SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 



M<irch 15, 1895. 



