CANAhfW FISIIKinr.s IIXI'FJHTIOS, 1<)1>,-15 29 



A nuniber of measurements made give the following' results : — 



0*90 mm 6 eggs. 



0-95 " 28 " 



1-00 " 5 " 



Merluccius merluccius is not noted in Jordan and Everraann's " Fishes of North 

 America." The ova, however, certainly agree very well with the European form. 

 Larvae of this species were not found, l)ut some few eggs in a fairly advanced state 

 of development. 



Of the American forms, M. hilinearis (Mitchill) is the species most closely 

 resembling the European, and the ova should probably be ascribed to this species. 



In European waters, Merluccius is of very common occurrence in the Mediter- 

 ranean and off the coasts of England; it extends, however, up as far as Xorway and 

 Iceland. 



In the Mediterranean, it spawns in tlie spring months; in the more northerly 

 waters, during summer. 



15. FAM. AMMODl'TID.E. 



Ammodytes tohianus (Linnaeus). 



(Plate III, Figs. 23 and 24; Tab'.e II j.) 



A. tohianus was found in greatest numbers on the first cruise of the Acadia, 

 eighty-nine specimens being secured. 



The second cruise of the Acadia, the cruise of A'o. S3, and the first cruise of the 

 Princess, furnished together only thirteen specimens; the second cruise of the Prin- 

 cess, none. 



It would seem to be found especially above the banks, but has also occasionally 

 been encountered over the deep channels, and closer in to land. The length varies 

 from 7 to 25 mm. the diflPerent sizes apparentlj^ occurring together. 



A. tohianus has a wide European area of distributii^i, extending from Spain to 

 Einmarken, the "White sea, Iceland, and Greenland. 



It is probably identical with A. americanus, DeKay, which species, according to 

 Jordan and Everniann, ranges from Newfoundland to cape Hatteras. 



The European form spawns in the autumn at about 20 metres depth, where the 

 ova are attached to grains of sand. 



The eggs may be hatched during the course of the winter; not until spring, how- 

 ever, are the larvae found in any considerable nuaibers among the plankton, where 

 they are then often encountered in enormous quantities. 



IG. FAM. TETRAGONURIDyE. 



Tetragonnrus cvrieri (Risso). 



(Plate III. Fig. 25.) 



One specimen of this Atlantic species, measuring 76 mm. was taken at Acadia 

 station 56; (210 to 140 fathoms). 



T. cuvieri is especially numerous in the Mediterranean and adjacent portions of 

 the Atlantic; according to Jordan and Evermann, it has only once previously been 

 taken oif the coast of America. It keeps chiefly to deep water, feeds on medusae, and 

 its flesh is s.iid fo be highly poisonous. 



