246 LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



liant and clianging colors during the death agonies. Even now the red color is 

 regarded as almost an essential of a fine fish, and it is rendered distinct, on the part 

 of the fishermen, by scaling it immediately after being taken. This operation pro- 

 duces a contraction of the chromatophores or cells containing the red pigment which 

 colors the fish. The sjiecies extends as far north as the British islands, and even occa- 

 sionally further northward along the continental shore. Although still regarded as a 

 fine fish, it has lost in estimation from the im])erial Roman days. 



We have next to consider a series of foi-ms almost all of which have an elongated 

 body, and a short spinous dorsal fin, or spinous portion of a single dorsal fin, and 

 which, for the greater part, inhabit tropical seas or the Antarctic. One of the most 

 important of these is the Latilidfe. 



The Latilidje are compressed fishes with the dorsal scarcely divided or not divided 

 at all; the spines few in number; the head compressed, the profile more or less 

 abruptly decurved in front of the eyes, the ojiercular bones unarmed ; the lateral line 

 entire ; the pectoral fins with branched rays, and the ventrals thoracic and each with 

 a spine and five rays. Several interesting forms belong to this group, but only two 

 can be mentioned in this place. 



One of the most extraordinary episodes in fish life has been manifested in one of 

 the species of this family. The species is a deejj-sea form, named Lopholatihis chanice- 

 leonficej^s, and which bears the ' English ' name tile-fish. This name, by which it is 

 quite generally known to the fishermen of the Massachusetts coast, is not of true popular 

 origin, but is simply a part of the name Z,oj)/iolatilus, and was suggested by Profes- 

 sor Goode. The fish was unknown until 1879, when specimens were brought by fisher- 

 men to Boston from a previously unexplored bank about eighty miles southeast of No 

 Man's Land, Mass. In the fall of the year 1880 it was found to be extremelj' abundant 

 everywhere off the coast of southern New England, at a depth of from seventy-five to 

 two hundred and fifty fathoms. The form of the species is more compressed, and 

 higher, than in most of the family, and what especially distinguishes it is the develop- 

 ment of a compressed "fleshy fin-like appendage over the back part of the head and 

 nape, reminding one of the adijwse fin of the Salmonids and cat-fishes." It is especially 

 notable, too, for the brilliancy of its colors, and as well as for its large size, being by 

 far larger than any other member of its family. A weight of fifty pounds or more is, 

 or rather, one might say, was, frequently attained by it, although such was very 

 far above the average, that being little over ten pounds. In the reach of water 

 referred to, it could once be found abundantly at any time, and caught by hook and 

 line. After a severe gale in March, 1882, millions of tile-fish could be seen, or calcu- 

 lated for, on the surface of the water for a distance of about three hundred miles from 

 north to south, and fifty miles from east to west. It has been calculated by Captain 

 Collins that as many as one thousand four hundred and thirty-eight millions were 

 scattered over the surface. This would have allowed about 288 pounds to every man, 

 woman, and child of the fifty million inhabitants of the United States! On trying at 

 their former habitat the next fall, as well as all successive years, to the present time, 

 not a single specimen could be found where formerly it was so numerous. We have 

 thus a case of a catastrophe which, as far as has been observed, caused complete anni- 

 hilation of an abundant animal in a very limited period. Whether the grounds it 

 formerly held will be reoccupied subsequently by the progeny of a protected colony 

 remains to be seen, but it is scarcely probable that the entire species has been exter- 

 minated. 



