40 . THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Oceanic Ichthyology : a Treatise on the Deep-Sea and Pelagic 

 Fishes of the World. By George Brown Goode, Ph.D., 

 LL.D., &c, and Tarleton H. Bean, M.D., M.S. Wash- 

 ington. 1895. 



The publication of this great work — in which the authors, 

 with the modesty that pertains to excellence, disavow the forma- 

 tion of "any conclusions which are new to science," though justly 

 claiming that " a great number of new facts are recorded — worthily 

 upholds the best traditions of the Smithsonian Institution. 

 The aim of the authors is best expressed in their own words : — 

 " Our purpose has been to present in Oceanic Ichthyology a dis- 

 cussion of all forms of fishes found in the seas of the world, both 

 pelagic species and those occurring at depths greater than 500 

 feet, especial prominence being given to those species which are 

 found in the Atlantic Ocean, most of which we have had an 

 opportunity to study. All oceanic fishes are included, partly 

 because it is not yet possible to distinguish strictly between the 

 two classes, and partly because the pelagic forms have, in part at 

 least, been mentioned in the discussions by all previous writers 

 on deep-sea fishes." The publication will therefore find a place 

 with, and also supplement, Prof. Collett's descriptions of the 

 Fishes of the Norwegian North Sea Expedition, Dr. Gunther's 

 'Deep-Sea Fishes of the Challenger Expedition,' Dr. Vaillant's 

 Report on the Deep-Sea Fishes of the Travailleur and Talisman 

 Expedition, and Alex. Agassiz's ' Contributions to American 

 Thalassography.' 



There is a great charm in learning the forms of life that 

 inhabit the gloomy oceanic depths. And we still know little, for, 

 though we are told some 600 different kinds of fishes have been 

 obtained from the depth of 1000 feet and more, there can be 

 little doubt that the tale of the sea is not yet told. "It seems 

 probable that there are many inhabitants of the depths which 

 are too swift, too wary and cunning, or too large to be taken. 

 It cannot be doubted, for example, that somewhere in the sea, at 

 an unknown distance below the surface, there are living certain 

 fish-like animals, unknown to science and of great size, which 

 come occasionally to the surface and give a foundation to such 

 stories as those of the sea serpent." Here therefore exist 



