62 A Guide to the Zoological Collections 



temperature approaches that of temperate, or even of 

 Arctic, seas ; and they are grouped into four families. 



Family I. Gadidce [Case 42]. 



Three species of the Cod family inhabit Indian Seas, 

 namely Bregmaceros Macclellandii, Physiculus roseus and 

 Pliysiculus argyropastus. 



The first is common enough in Indian waters at fifty 

 to about a hundred and fifty fathoms, but also occurs 

 at less depths : the second has been found in the Anda- 

 man Sea at about 200 fathoms, where the temperature 

 is about 56° Fahr. : the third has been taken in the Bay 

 of Bengal and Gulf of Manar between 100 and 200 

 fathoms, where the temperature is between 60° and 

 50° Fahr. 



Another species of Bregmaceros occurs in the Carib- 

 bean Sea ; and other species of Physiculus occur in the 

 West Indian and Madeiran regions of the Atlantic, in 

 the Mediterranean, and in Japanese Seas. 



Family II. Opliidiidce [Case 42]. 



The great majority of the Indian representatives of 

 this family live in the cool depths of the sea. The body 

 is generally long and somewhat eel-like : the ventral 

 fins are reduced to one or two rudiments attached to the 

 throat, or are altogether absent. The genera may be 

 noticed in detail : — 



Genus 1. Brotula. The species, which occur in the 

 Caribbean Sea, the Indian Ocean and Japan, have small 

 barbels on the chin. 



Genus 2. Dincmatichthys. A species has been found 

 in the pools of the coral reefs of the Andamans. It has 

 a distinct caudal fin. 



Genus 3. NeobytJiites. This is a deep-sea genus, of 



