552 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
An important collection of Tropical Asiatic fishes has "been obtained 
from Dr. P. van Bleeker, containing typical specimens of the new 
species of Pharyngognathes and Anacanthines described by that 
ichthyologist in his forthcoming work on the ichthyology of the 
East Indian Archipelago. 
A second collection, made by one of the members of the Prussian 
expedition to Siam and Japan, and acquired by the Museum, is not 
inferior to the former; almost all the rare forms described in the 
“ Eauna Japonica,” such as Histiopterus , Velifer , Monocestris , &c., 
and especially all the Chondropterygian fishes, are represented in it. 
The last collection made by the lamented M. Mouhot in the 
interior of Siam contained several new forms, e. g., Catopra , &c. 
Her Majesty’s Consul at Pormosa, B. Swinhoe, Esq., has com¬ 
menced to collect and to send to the Museum the fishes of that 
island. 
Africa. —The assistance of John Petherick, Esq., her Majesty’s 
Consul at Khartoum, has been secured for procuring a complete 
series of the Pishes of the Kile, important not only for the 
naturalist, but also for the archaeologist. The last collection sent by 
that gentleman to this country has been carefully examined, and 
every serviceable specimen was procured at a moderate price, so that 
the British Museum now possesses the finest collection of the fishes 
of that river. 
The Clarotes, hitherto known from a single deformed example in 
the possession of Professor Hyrtl, of Vienna, is represented by 
specimens of all ages. 
Several small collections of fresh water fishes have been received 
from the western coasts; nearly all the specimens contained in them 
are either entirely new, or but little known ; some of the new species 
are extremely interesting, for instance, Mormyrus Petersii , with the 
lower lip produced into a long cone. 
Australia. —Mr Gr. KrefFt, acting curator of the South Australian 
Museum at Sydney, has adopted the plan of having his specimens 
named in accordance with those preserved in European collections. 
Por that purpose he transmits his duplicates at regular intervals to 
the British Museum, and, all the specimens being numbered, he 
receives the names in return; those specimens are of special par¬ 
ticular value, inasmuch as the locality of each specimen has been 
noted. Bare species, as, e. g., Atypichthys, JParma, LabricJithys, have 
been received through this source. 
America. —The fishes which have been received from the North 
American continent during the last year have come from the west 
coast. 
A series of the viviparous fishes Ditrematidce or Holconoti, in the 
most perfect state of preservation, has been obtained by the natu¬ 
ralist accompanying the British North American Boundary Commis¬ 
sion ; several undescribed species of Salmonidce from the rivers from 
the western slope of the rocky mountains are in the same collection. 
