CHAPTER X. 



PHYSOSTOMI. 



Ventral fins abdominal in position ; duct of the swim-bladder open ; 

 inferior pharyngeal bones distinct. 



The Argentine Family. Sternoptychidae. 



THE ARGENTINE. (Maurolicus Pennantii, Walb.) 



Day observes "As the ova, which were large, were ready 

 for shedding in examples captured in February and the milt 

 was similarly forward, it appears that off Scotland they mftst 

 breed during the earlier portion of the year." It is not stated 

 whether the eggs were pelagic or demersal. 



The Garfish Family. Scombresocidae. 



THE GARFISH OR GARPIKE. (Rhamphistoma belone, L.) 



Like the sparling this fish has eggs (fig. 40) with long 

 adhesive filaments which attach themselves to various objects, 

 and, as Day observes, on what grounds we do not know, " may 

 bind together large numbers of eggs into one mass and fix such 

 to some suitable substance." He also states that along the 

 south coast of England the breeding-season is May and June, 

 but in Ireland July. From the appearance of the ovaries of 

 those captured in the middle of April the latter would seem 

 to be near the spawning-period in Scotland. It appears to 

 frequent estuaries, e.g. the Eden, for breeding. 



