430" GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [i ART nv 



FAMILY 18. XIPHIHLE. (2 Genera, 8 Species.) 



" Marine fishes, with elongate compressed body and a produced 

 sword-shaped upper jaw." 



DISTRIBUTION. Mediterranean, and open seas between or near 

 the Tropics. 



Xiphws (the Sword-fish) has occurred on the English coast. 



. " 



FAMILY 19. GOBIHLE. (24 Genera, 294 Species.) 



Carnivorous fishes, with elongate low, naked, or scaly bodies, 

 living at the bottom of the shallow seas or fresh waters of tem- 

 perate or tropical regions. Individuals of the same species often 

 differ in inhabiting exclusively fresh or salt water. 



DISTRIBUTION. All temperate and tropical regions, from 

 Scotland and Japan to New Zealand. Species of Gobius, Latrun- 

 culus t and Cyllionymus occur in Britain. Several genera are 

 confined to the East Indian seas and rivers, but none seem 

 peculiar to America. The genus Periopthalmus consists of the 

 curious, large-headed, projectiug-eyed fishes, so abundant on the 

 muddy shores of African and Eastern tidal rivers, and which seem 

 to spend most of their time out of water, hunting after insects, &c. 



x 



FAMILY 20. DISCOBOLI- (2 Genera, 11 Species.) 



" Carnivorous fishes, with oblong naked or tubercular bodies, 

 living at the bottom . of shallow seas, and attaching themselves 

 to rocks by means of a ventral disc. 



DISTRIBUTION. All northern seas, as far south as Belgium, 

 England, and San Francisco. 



Species of both genera (Cyclopterus and Liparis) occur in 

 British seas. 



