Ethelwynn Trewavas

VI.—A synopsis of the Cichlid Fishes of Lake Nyasa

THE Cichlid Fishes of Nyasa were revised in 1 9 g b y Regan (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1921), who increased the number of described species from 38 to 84. The British Museum (Natural History) is fortunate in possessing the types of all those species. Regans revision was based on a collection made by Mr. Rodney C. Wood, from hauls brought in by native fishermen. Dr. Regan recognized that Mr. Woods collection indicated the presence in the lake of a rich and varied Cichlid fauna, and he arranged for the late Dr. Cuthbert Christy to make a special expedition to the lake in 1925-26, which resulted in the very fine collection on which the present mvision is mainly based. In the Christy Collection the f@y Cichlida is represented by about 3500 specimens. Jh. Regan had already started work on it when I joined t h staff of the Natural History Museum in 1928, and he has kindly placed his notes at my disposal, as well as taking a ~ o n s t m t and helpful interest in my further work.