io8 Tlic Irish Naluralisi. July. 



fishes.^ They are very active pelagic forms, difficult to 

 catch and somewhat herring-like in shape. The most 

 striking feature they possess is a series of numerous 

 luminous organs on the head and body. \Mien alarmed 

 or in any way disturbed these fish are able to obscure 

 or switch off as it were the light issuing from these tiny 

 lamps. Seven different kinds of fishes belonging to the 

 genus Scopelus were observed. 



The last of this series of reports- deals mainly witli fishes 

 from great depths of the ocean. Most of these fishes have 

 fantastic shapes and large mouths. The eyes are often 

 large, sometimes they are c}uitc minute. The body is 

 frequently scaleless, while luminous organs are generally 

 present. Some species like Maiirolicus Pe.nncuiti stray 

 into shallow water, whereas the members of the genus 

 Argyropelecus are truly pelagic in their habits. The 

 curious Lamprotoxiis flagelliharha has a filament many 

 times the length of its whole body attached to the lower 

 jaw. This fish is quite new to science. An interesting 

 note on its luminous organ is given by Mr. C. L. Boulenger. 

 Bathylagus euryops, formerly described by Holt and B\Tne 

 as B. atlanticus, is related to the salmon. 



That the freshwater eel, which is of such economic value, 

 spawns in the sea, where the early stages of its develop- 

 ment take place, was definitely ascertained some years 

 ago. A few problems relating to the subsequent move- 

 ments of the eel fry still await elucidation. W'ith a view 

 to solving some of these, tables of queries were issued 

 by the Department. Mr. Hillas's two reports^^ contain the 

 printed replies to these \\hich throw a certain amount 

 of fight on these movements of the eel fry. 



^ Holt, E. W. L., and L. W. Byrne. — Fifth Report on the Fishes 

 of the Irish Atlantic Slope. — Fishes of the genus Scopelus. Fisheries, 

 Ireland, Sci. Invest., 1910, vi. [191 1]. 



2 Holt, E. W. L., and L. W. Byrne. — Sixth Report on the Fishes 

 of the Irish Atlantic Slope. — The Families Stomiatidae, Sternoptychidae 

 and Salmonidae, with a note on the luminous organs of Lamprotoxus 

 flagellibarba by C. L. Boulenger. Fisheries, Ireland, Sci. Invest., 1912, 

 i. and ii. [1913]. 



' HiLLAS, A. B. E. — Summary of Reports relative to Eel Fry, 1908-9 

 and 1909-10. Fisheries, Ireland, Sci. Invest., 1908, vi. [i 910], and 1909- 

 ii. fi9ii]. 



