PBEFACE. vil 



Government of the Congo State, from the Niger, principally through the exertions 

 of Dr. W. J. Ansorge, Mr. H. L. Norton Traill (formerly Norton Smith), and the late 

 Mr. J. S. Budgett, from the Gambia, through the last-named, from the Senegal, thanks 

 to an expedition undertaken for the purpose by the late M. P. Delhez, with aid from 

 the Government Grant of the Royal Society, from Lake Chad and the Shari River, 

 through the late Capt. G. B. Gosling. Shortly before the conclusion of my work, 

 Mr. W. N. McMillan has sent to the British Museum a large and valuable collection 

 made by Mr. P. C. Zaphiro in Gallaland and Southern Ethiopia, supplementing 

 smaller series entrusted to me for study by Mr. Oscar Neumann, the late Baron Carlo 

 von Erlanger, and Baron Maurice de Rothschild. 



The importance of this material, which, so far as the Nile species are concerned, 

 is enumerated in this volume, will be realized from the fact that the 192 species 

 dealt with are described from 14,107 examples, 11,068 of which form part of 

 Mr. Loat's collection. This enormous increase accounts for the delay which has 

 taken place in the issue of this work, which I first expected would require barely 

 four years to prepare, whilst it has taken seven. As it was nearing completion much 

 material kept falling into my hands, material of the greatest importance which could 

 not well have been left out, and owing to which publication had to be deferred. 



The greater part of the fishes collected by Mr Loat will be preserved in the 

 British Museum (Natural History) and in the Museum of the Government Medical 

 School at Cairo, The surplus will be presented by the Egyptian Government to the 

 Gordon College at Khartum and to various Scientific Institutions. 



I am requested by Mr. Loat to place here on record the services rendered to 

 him in the accomplishment of his task : — 



" I am much indebted to numerous officials, both civil and military, especially 

 to Dr. Keatinge, Director of the Kasr-el-Aini Hospital and Medical School, who 

 not only rendered me every assistance, but showed the greatest interest in my work 

 during the whole time that the survey lasted. When in the provinces I received 

 every help from both English and Egyptian officials, amongst whom I should like 

 to mention Basil Erian Effendi, the Multazzim who rented most of the fishing on 



