622 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1384. 



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

 equally developed, such as the lampreys, eels, salmonids, pike, yellow 

 perches, millers-thumbs, burbot, and sticklebacks. On one hand the 

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

 no grayling in Kew England ; on the other, the suckers, catfishes, mum- 

 michogs or Cyprinodontids, and sunfishes of New England are 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 American 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 (Murienid), a scabbard-fish (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 5 

 two Callionymids, nine gobies, four true blennies, and more Gadids, 

 flatfishes, and 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 Scisenids, more Labracids, a He- 

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

 tulariid, an Antennariid, 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 known JisJi. 



Until lately the oldest known fishes had been obtained from the 

 English Ludlow beds, which are near 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 tbe American jtikes (JE'sox noiilior), but uot occurring iu Massachusetts, 

 18 larger tliau tbo European, ami tUe largest ami finest of the fauiily. 



