A COLLECTION OF FISHES FROM SUMATRA. 

 By Henrt W. Fowler. 



During the late summer and autumn of 1901 Mr. Alfred C. Harrison, Jr., 

 and Dr. H. M. Hiller formed an important zoological collection while pursuing 

 their explorations in Sumatra. Most of the reports on the different groups have 

 already appeared in the Proceedings of the Academ}-. and as the fishes comprise 

 a large part of the material they have demanded corresponding attention. 



But two localities appear on the labels. With the exception of a few fresh- 

 water forms taken at Batu Sangkar, Tanah Datar, in Padangsche Bovenland, at an 

 elevation between 1500 and 3000 feet, tlie specimens were secured in the markets 

 or environs of Padang. Many are food-fishes, evident!}' of importance, though no 

 particular information concerning the fisheries, local names, etc., has been preserved. 



The collection was submitted to me for examination by Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, 

 President of the Academy, to whom I am indebted for this opportunity of studying 

 East Indian fishes. At that time I was at Stanford University, assisting Dr. Jordan 

 with the work on his Japanese fishes, and later the United States Fish Commission 

 with their report on the Hawaiian collections. When first examined, the colors, 

 which had been well preserved, were noted, as the fishes had all been prepared in 

 arrack or rice-rum. After being placed in alcohol they soon more or less faded. 

 Through the courtesy of Dr. Jordan I had the opportunity of examining and com- 

 paring the fine collections in Stanford University. From the other well-known 

 ichthyologists located there I also received many courtesies, especially from Dr. 

 Oliver P. Jenkins, who freely placed his collection of Hawaiian fishes at my dis- 

 posal. I am also indebted to Dr. Barton W. Evermann, for suggestions and com- 

 parisons with Hawaiian forms. Dr. Seth E. Meek has also kindly forwarded notes 

 on his collection of Aden fishes. Finally, to the naturalists of the Academy I wish 

 to express appreciation for many courtesies, more especially to Mr. Witmer Stone 

 and Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry. To these gentlemen I am under many obligations. 

 Mr. Stone has not only granted numerous and varied favors but also freely offered 

 advice and excellent suggestions. Upon returning to Philadelphia I found it neces- 

 sary to entirely revise the original manuscripts written at Stanford University, 

 more especially as the library and museum of the Academy oifers so many facilities 

 for consultation and comparison. At present the material is contained in the 

 Academy with the exception of a series of duplicates left in Stanford University. 

 The latter includes several cotypes. 



Difficulty, as usual, has been experienced in the identification of a number of 

 . species, owing to the short, incomplete or unsatisfactory accounts, with little relation 



63 JOUEN. ACAD. NAT. SCI. PHILA., VOL. XII. 



