A female chimaera ( Callorhynchus antarcticus) from the southern ocean. On the left is an egg stuck in the ooze. 



The Norwegian scientist Johan T. Ruud has pointed out that Scandinavian whalers had 

 for a long time noticed that three of these nototheniids (Champsocephaliis, Pseudochaenicliihys 

 and Chaenoceplialiis) have a perfectly colourless blood. Although completely without haemo- 

 globin, this blood does not appear to restrict their activity. The physiologists drew most 

 varied conclusions from this discovery, basing themselves on the Nicloux (1923) observations 

 that life in aquatic creatures is not slowed down when their haemoglobin is overloaded with 

 carbon dioxide and is no longer able to absorb oxygen. But antarctic fishes ought not to be 

 found in such special conditions, for the heavy swell of the southern seas is sufficiently aerated 

 to saturate with oxygen the haemoglobin of all animals living in it. The Scandinavian seamen's 

 " bloodless fishes " add a new problem to the little known biology of the world living under 

 the Southern Cross. 



Overleaf: Monodactylus argenteiis. 

 Indian Ocean. Photograph V. Six. 

 Aguarium du Zoo d'Anvers. 

 Sumatran barbs. Photograph Fraass. 



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