IV 
PEEFACE. 
Elasmobranchs as not only clearly to show us the characters and 
relationships of many obscure fossil forms, but often to aid us 
towards a more correct interpretation of their living representatives. 
With the exception of an Alphabetical Catalogue of the Type- 
specimens of Fossil Fishes preserved in the British Museum prepared 
by Mr. William Davies, F.G.S., and published in the Geolooical 
Magazise for 1871 (pp. 208 & 334), no previous attempt had been 
made to catalogue this Collection. 
Although Mr. Arthur Smith Woodward has only been able to 
devote a small part of his official time during the past seven years 
to the study of Fossil Fishes, he has nevertheless made most excellent 
use of all his opportunities, and having enjoyed the constant advice 
and assistance of Mr. William Davies, and been in frequent com- 
munication with Dr. K. H. Traquair, Dr. Gunther, and many other 
eminent Ichthyologists, the present volume will be found worthy 
to rank with similar publications as a valuable contribution to sys- 
tematic Zoology and a most useful and accurate refercnce-Catalogue 
for Pala3ontologists and Ichthyologists. 
HENRY WOODWARD. 
Geological Department, 
9th March, 1889. 
