92 REPORT — 1875. 



according to Dr. Giinther's modern system and nomenclature. As a cheaper 

 and more popular work we may also refer to Couch's 'British Fishes,' in four 

 volumes (89), of which the Last was issued iu 18G-5. In this book the figures are 

 coloured. 



Prof. Blanchard issued in 1866 a volume of the Freshwater-FLshes of France 

 (90), which, however, does not hear so high a character a's Siebold's work above 

 referred to. For our knowledge of the fishes of Spain and Portugal we are chiefly 

 indebted to Steindachner's memoirs in the Sitzungsberichte of the ^^ienna Academy 

 (91), and to F. de Brito Capello's papers in the Journal of Sciences of Lisbon (92). 

 Of those of Italy, Prof. Canestrini has lately published a revised list with short 

 specific characters, as a section of the work called ' Italia ' already referred to (9-3). 

 Those interested in the fishes of the Black Sea and adjoining river-basins should 

 consult the ichthyological portion of Demidoft's ' Voyage danslaRussie m<5ridionale,' 

 entitled " Pisces Fauna3 Ponticse." I am not acquainted with any other important 

 recent memoirs on the Ichthyological faunas of the different European states 

 which it is necessary to refer to until we come to Scandinavia, where Malmgren 

 published in 1863 an excellent essay upon the Fishes of Finland, which was sub- 

 sequently translated into German (94) *. As regards the Fishes of Spitzbergen and 

 Nova Zembla, Heuglin's Synopsis of them in the second volume of his already 

 quoted ' Reisen nach dem Nordpolarmeer ' is the most recent authority, though it 

 Is principally founded upon the labom-s of Loven and Thorell, and of the naturalists 

 of the Swedish expeditions of 1861 and 1864. 



3. The Siberian Subregion. 



When I call to mind the numerous scientific expeditions sent by the Russians 

 into different parts of their recent acquisitions in Northern Asia, and turn over the 

 pages of the excellent and instructive works in which the results of these expedi- 

 tions have been given to the world, I must own to a feeling of indignation at the 

 manner in which such matters are usually dealt with by the Government of this 

 coimtry. In the first place, in order to get such an expedition sent out at all, 

 great exertions and special influence are necessarj'. The Ireasury must be memo- 

 rialized, the Chancellor of the Exchequer besought, and the Admiitilty petitioned, 

 before any grant of money can be sanctioned for the purpose; and even then it is 

 too often bestowed in a niggardly and grudging way. When the expedition returns, 

 similar applications have to be made in order to get the results worked out and 

 properly published ; and these are in some cases altogether rejected, so that the 

 money already spent upon collecting becomes virtually thrown awaJ^ In Russia, 

 although the nation may be less awake to the claims of science than in this country, 

 the Government is certainly more so ; and it is to the scientific men attached to 

 the Government expeditions that we are indebted for nearly all the knowledge we 

 possess of the fauna of Northern Asia. Of the more important reports of the 

 more recent of these expeditions I will say a few words. 



Middendorft-s ' Sibirische Reise ' (95), published in 1847-67, gives an account of 

 the fauna of the extreme north and east of Siberia. The second volume of the zoolo- 

 gical section is entu'ely devoted to the ]\Ianimals, Birds, aud Reptiles, and gives 

 full details concerning the structure and habits of the species met with. Of Von 

 Schrenck's ' Amur-Reisen ' (96), a volume published in 18.59 contains a complete 

 memoir on the Mammals and Birds of tlie newly acquired district traversed by the 

 Amoor, lying to the south of that investigated by Hr. v. Middendorft'. Lastly, two 

 volumes of Radde's ' Reisen in dem Siiden v. Ost-Sibirien ' (97), published in 1862 

 and 1863, render more perfect our knowledge of the Mammals and Birds of South- 

 eastern Siberia. Hr. Radde's chief observations were made in Transbaikalia ; but 

 he incorporates the knowledge accumulated by his predecessors in the surrovmding 

 distiicts, and goes deeply into general results. 



Dr. A. V. Middendor£f''s ' Isepiptesen Russlands ' (98) should also be consulted 

 by those who wish to understand the migration of birds in Siberia, or indeed 

 throughout the Russian dominions. 



* See Zool. Eec. I«fl4, p. 130. 



