University of the State of New York 



New York State Museum 



Fredeirick J. H. Merrill Director 



Bulletin 60 



ZOOLOGY 9 



CJ^TALOGUE^ OF" THE 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



PREFACE 



In 1836, under the influence of public interest, Secretary of 

 State John A. Dix presented to the legislature a plan for a 

 natural history survey of the state, which was carried out with 

 success and credit and resulted in the publication of a large 

 number of valuable reports. Not the least important of these 

 were the contributions of James E. De Kay to the zoology of 

 New York, which appeared in 1842 and 1843. 



Since that time comparatively little official recognition had 

 been given to the progress of biologic study, till in 1897 the 

 writer secured the able services of Mr Gerrit S. Miller jr in / 

 preparing a preliminary list of New York mammals. Follow- 

 ing this appeared in October 1900 a key to the land mammals of 

 northeastern North America by the same author, and in April 

 1900 a check list of the birds of New York by Dr Marcus S. Farr, 

 who is now engaged in the preparation of a detailed catalogue 

 of the birds of New York. A list of reptiles and batrachians by 

 Messrs Eckel and Paulmier has recently appeared; and in the 

 present bulletin Dr Tarleton H. Bean gives to the citizens of the 

 state the benefit of his natural talent and lou^ training as an 



