Zoology at the Fisheries Exhibition ¹

Abstract

II.—Notes on the Vertebrata

AT the request of the editor of NATURE I have drawn up this very general report on the Vertebrate animals now exhibited in the natural history sections of the different Courts at the International Fisheries Exhibition. In its compilation I have principally used the notes taken during a month's pretty close attendance at the great piscatorial show in South Kensington, and whilst doing work on the two special juries who had to examine and report on such collections. The space and time conceded preclude entirely anything like a detailed account even of this small portion of the rich and varied exhibit, whilst on the other hand books of reference could not be consulted, and strict nomenclature and systematic arrangement must be partly sacrificed. I shall, however, be content if I succeed in giving a fair general account of this special part of the Fisheries Exhibition, which cannot but interest many of the readers of this periodical to whom the sight of the exhibits themselves, some of very great interest, is not possible. I may also add that to my knowledge one group, that of Birds, will be the subject of a special article, to be published shortly in a special journal by one of our leading ornithologists, whilst on the other hand the Cetacea and Pinnipeda will be reported on in the jurors' reports by such distinguished specialists as Prof. Flower and Mr. Clark. I do not know whether any special report on the all-important and largely represented group of Fishes be imminent; I fear not; but as several highly competent ichthyologists have carefully gone over such collections in the Exhibition, I trust that so important a subject will also be laid before the scientific world by a competent reporter.