[ 377 ] XIV. An account of the Fishes of the States of Central America, based on collections made by Capt. J. M. Dow, F. Godman, Esq., and O. Salvin, Esq. By Albert GtJNTHER, M.A., M.R, Ph.D., F.Ii.S., F.Z.S. Read March 22nd, 1864, and December 13th, 1866. [Plates LXTII. to LXXXVII.] § 1. Introductory Historical Remarks on the Collections forming the basis of this Memoir. IjEFORE proceeding to the enumeration and description of the fishes known to exist in the States of Central America, I may be permitted briefly to notice the circumstances which enable me to submit to the Society the results contained in the present memoir. Mr. Salvin started in the year 1859 on his second excursion to Guatemala, chiefly with the intention of working out the ornithological fauna of that country. But having had his attention directed by me to the fact that its cold-blooded vertebrates were almost entirely unknown, he made and brought home a small collection of reptiles and fresh-water fishes, which proved to be of sufficient interest to encourage him to pay still more attention to this subject on a third excursion, which he undertook in company with Mr. Godman in the year 1861. By far the greater part of the materials which form the basis of this memoir were obtained on this occasion. Not only did the two travellers extend their excursions to various parts of Guatemala, but Mr. Salvin also visited Panama, where he met and collected in company with Capt. Dow, of the Panama Railway Company's Steamer ' Guatemala.' Capt. Dow, indeed, had commenced to collect fishes previously to this, having sent several collections to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, and to the Zoological Society of London, whence they were transferred to the British Museum ; and for the last three years he has continued his researches with such zeal and liberality that I cannot abstain from acknowledging here the great services, he has rendered to the cause of science. The collections made by these gentlemen contained not less than about 1500 examples, in a perfect state of preservation, many of considerable size. In addition to these, I have examined a few which had been purchased of a dealer for the British Museum having been collected at Puerto Cabello in the Bay of Honduras, and, finally, those collected by Dr. Seemann, originally deposited in the Collection of Haslar Hospital, and now in the British Museum. The latter have lost much of their scientific value, as, unfortunately, no record was kept of the localities where they were obtained ; arid only in a few cases have I been able to avail myself of specimens of this collection, Adz. where the original label, with the name of the collector, has been accidentally presen'ed. VOL. VI. part VII. 3 G ■/
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