NOTOTHENIIDAE 



73 



1 6 gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. Scales on body smooth or rather feebly 

 ctenoid ; 70 to 80 in a lateral longitudinal series ; 41 to 48 tubular scales in upper lateral 

 line, which ends below or a little behind last ray of dorsal, 6 to 1 1 in lower lateral line. 

 Dorsal VI-VII 32-35; longest spine not more than | length of head. Anal 31-34. 

 Pectoral from less than f to more than f length of head, usually longer than the pelvics, 

 which seldom reach origin of anal. Caudal rounded ; caudal peduncle deeper than long. 

 Body marbled, spotted and blotched with darker; spinous dorsal usually with a dense 

 black spot covering greater part of fin, and with a narrow white edge ; soft dorsal, 

 caudal, and sometimes anal variegated with series of dark spots, the margins of the 

 fins clear white. 



Hab. Patagonian-Falklands region ; Straits of Magellan ; southern Chile, northwards 



to Chiloe. 



In addition to the above, Mr Bennett has sent 9 specimens (150 to 240 mm.) from 

 the Dockyard Jetty, Stanley, Falkland Islands, taken in a trap set in i\ fathoms in 

 November, 1933 ; as well as 8 others (140-225 mm.), collected near the beach at New 



Fig. 33. Notothenia tessellata. 



v 2 

 Xj. 



Island, West Falklands, by Mr Hamilton in February, 1934. There are also 21 specimens 

 (140-250 mm.) in the British Museum collection, including the types of the species, 

 the types of N. veitchii, and 2 specimens (probably paratypes) of N. brevipes, received 

 from Professor Lonnberg. 



Apart from the very short snout, I am unable to detect any differences between 

 N. gilberti (based upon two specimens, both 60 mm. in total length) and young examples 

 of N. tessellata. In an example of 53 mm. collected by the 'William Scoresby' the 

 snout has been pushed inwards, giving the head an appearance very similar to that 

 shown in the figure of N. gilberti. 



This species is fairly common at the Falkland Islands, where it is known as "Rock 

 Cod", a name given indiscriminately to all species of Notothenia. Mr Bennett notes 

 that these fishes arrive round the shores in October and November, and disappear about 

 the middle of April. They lurk around jetties, under rocks, and in the " kelp ", becoming 

 most active about sunset. Shags and seals are their natural enemies, but penguins may 

 take toll of the smaller fish. They may be caught with a bait of raw lean mutton, but 

 are not popular as food. 



