622 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1384. 



nids.) The generic types couimon to the two regions are, however, about 

 equally developed, such as tbe lampreys, eels, saluionids, pike, yellow 

 perches, inilleivs-thiiiubs, burbot, aud sticklebacks. On one hand the 

 family of Loaches is the only one wanting in America, although there is 

 no grayliug in IS'ew England ; on the other, the suckers, catfishes, mum- 

 michogs or Cyprinodontids, and sunfishes of New England arc wanting 

 in Britain. The common American charr or brook trout is larger than 

 the British species and takes the place in New England of the true trout 

 of England, a type deficient from the Eastern American fauna. The 

 peculiar American species of the pike family are smaller* than the com- 

 mon pike common to the two countries,. and which alone is a native of 

 Britain, and indeed of Europe generally. 



There is another feature of interest. It is that, with the exception of 

 the sticklebacks, none of the British fresh-water fishes take special care 

 of their eggs or young, while, of the Ameriean types, the catfishes and 

 sunfishes are noted for their care of both the eggs and young. 



If now we compare the salt-water species, we find that Britain has a 

 lancelet, a six-gilled shark, an Oxynotid, three Scylliorhinids,many more 

 rays, a Murray (Murieuid), a scabbard-flsh (Lepidopodid), a John Dory 

 (Zenid), a boar-fish (Caproid), very many more Sparids, seven Labrids 

 to New England's two; many more Triglids, and all of a special genus; 

 two Callionj'mids, nine gobies, four true bleuuies, aud more Gadids, 

 flatfishes, aud soles, a Centriscid, and more pipefishes, types wanting 

 or more poorly represented in New England. 



To somewhat balance all these absentees, New England has an Odon- 

 taspidid, several Cyprinodontids, more Sciienids, more Labracids, a He- 

 mitripterid, a Dactylopterid, three Stichseids, a Cryptacanthodid, a Fis- 

 tulariid, an Aatenuariid, and aMaltheid — types entirely unknown or less 

 represented in England. 



In this comparison no account has been taken of deep-sea types 

 (which, on account of the proximity of deep water, are more numerous 

 near the British shores) or those that are mere wanderers to either 

 shore. On the other hand, types that are represented in the waters of 

 Massachusetts, though they may not have been credited to Massachu- 

 setts Bay, have been kept in view. 



The oldest hnown fish. 



Until lately the oldest known fishes had been obtained from the 

 English Ludlow beds, which are uear the top of the Upper Silurian, 

 and none had been found in America lower than the Devonian. In the 

 past year, however, remains were found which indicate the existence 

 of what have been supposed to be fishes in still lower beds of the Silu- 

 rian, in Pennsylvania. They were discovered by Prof. E. W. Claypole 



■*Oue of tlie Auiericau pikes (£soj; nobiliur), but not occuniug iu Massachusetts, 

 ijB,lai:yer tUau the Europeau, anil the largest :iail finest of the family. 



