O CATALOG OF FOSSIL FISHES IN THE MUSEUM 



problems suggested by these primitive forms, which for the present 

 muist remain partly, if not wholly, misolved. 



A word in regard to the method of treatment adopted in this 

 catalog. Our primary concern is with individual specimens rather 

 than with species. Our aim is to describe and figure these speci- 

 mens so that they may become scientifically available to all, and 

 not merely to those having access to the collection. This, it seems 

 to us, is after all the chief function of a catalog of this kind. Hence 

 discussions of species, except in so far as the specimens in hand 

 throw new light upon them, are not extensively gone into. And 

 synonymies are omitted except in the few cases where it is necessary 

 to indicate the reasons for a proposed change in nomenclature, or to 

 epitomize the history of some littk known, or lately proposed, 

 name. 



We wish here to express our grateful acknowledgments to Mr. 

 Henry R. Howland of the Buffalo Museum, for his kindly in- 

 terest in this work, and for the help and encouragement given us 

 during the long period it has been in preparation. It has seemed to 

 us especially fitting, as a permanent memorial of Mr. Howland's 

 relations to this work, that his name be linked with one of the new 

 forms represented in the Buffalo Museiun; and we have accordingly 

 proposed for one of the most interesting species from the vicinity of 

 Buffalo, the name Ptyctodus howlandi. 



SOURCES OF THE MATERIALS 



The specimens in the collection are derived from several different 

 sources, as follows: 



I. A series of specimens from various horizons and localities, more 

 especially from the Upper Devonic in the vicinity of Buffalo, which 

 forms the nucleus of the collection. This part of the collection has 

 grown up gradually in the course of the past three decades or longer, 

 as a result of the geological and paleontological excursions in the 

 vicinity of Buffalo by members of the society, as well as through 

 the occasional gifts of specimens by various friends. 



Of first importance in this connection are the collections made by 

 Mr. F. K. Mixer of Buffalo, long a member of the society and at one 

 time the curator of the museum. Mr. Mixer did pioneer work in 

 investigating the Devonic fish-bearing formations in the vicinity of 

 Buffalo, and to his zeal are due some of the most noteworthy speci- 



