THE FISHES OF THE FRESH WATERS OF PANAMA. 
BY SETH E. MEEK* AND SAMUEL F. HILDEBRAND. 
PREFACE. 
The present report is based upon the fresh water species of fishes 
collected during the “Smithsonian Biological Survey of the Panama 
Canal Zone.” The ichthyological reconnaissance, however, was made 
co-operatively by the Smithsonian Institution, Field Museum of 
Natural History and the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. 
With the exception of a small number of specimens contributed by 
Messrs. H. Pittier and E. A. Goldman of the U. S. Department of 
Agriculture, the collections were made by the authors during two seasons, 
viz.;from January to May inclusive, 1911, and from January to March 
inclusive, 1912. The winter and early spring months were chosen 
because they represent the dry season in Panama. In 1911 the work 
was, however, well extended into the rainy season, for during the 
month of May it rained every day and the streams became so high and 
muddy that our efforts had to be confined to collecting marine species. 
It became impossible to dry the nets or our clothing, except by artificial 
heat, therefore, on May 22 the work was abandoned and resumed the 
following January. 
We are greatly indebted to the Panama Rail Road Company for 
furnishing free transportation to and from New York and for a free 
pass on the Panama Rail Road. We are also deeply indebted to the 
Isthmian Canal Commission, and General George W. Goethals in 
particular, for extending to us every convenience and assistance pos- 
sible. To the Darien Gold Mining Company we also owe our deepest 
gratitude for rendering invaluable aid on our expedition to the Darien 
region. Without the help thus received it would have been impossible 
to make so large and thorough a collection as the present one. 
Our knowledge of the fresh water fishes of the Isthmus of Panama 
heretofore was fragmentary. It was based on small collections made at 
various times, usually not by naturalists, but by tourists and others 
who possessed a popular interest in the subject. The small collections 
thus secured were reported upon by various authors, viz.; Kner & 
Steindachner, Steindachner, Ginther, Gill, Evermann & Goldsborough 
 -*Deceased July 6, 1914. 
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