GENERA AND SPECIES. 77 



they begin their journey to the sea, whence very tew return. 

 Eels will travel overland wherever it is fairly moist, and have even 

 been reported by a gardener for eating his peas. They are quick of 

 hearing, and in captivity will come to be fed when called. 



Aphia. Plate ix. GOBIID/E. 



70. pellucida. TRANSPARENT GOBY. Teeth conspicuous and in a 

 single row. 



The Transparent Goby, the whitebait of the Adriatic, has two 

 dorsal fins, the first having 5 spines, the second having i spine and 

 from ii to 13 rays, the anal has i spine and 13 or 14 rays, the 

 caudal has 17 rays, the pectorals have 16 rays and the ventrals have 

 the usual spine and 5 rays. In the male the first dorsal is higher 

 than in the females, and in both the anal is very similar to the 

 second dorsal in shape and size. The caudal is rounded, and the 

 sides are nearly parallel. In the lateral line there are 26 scales. 

 The scales are large and cycloid. The mouth extends to the middle 

 of the eye, the under jaw being the longer ; and in the male the 

 jaws become larger and more oblique during the breeding season, 

 when the teeth also increase in size. The Transparent Goby is 

 generally transparent with a faint line of yellow, and a few orange 

 dots, and is not much more than i^ inches long. It is a surface- 

 swimmer and gregarious, and in the Mediterranean appears in large 

 numbers, but is not very noticeable in our waters, though some 

 have been taken all round the coast. 



Argentina. Plate xxvii. SALMONIDJE. 

 219. sphyr&na, ARGENTINE. Body ridged. 



The dorsal fin has i or 2 spines and 8 or 9 rays ; the anal has 2 

 or 3 spines and 9 or 10 rays, and the caudal has 19 rays; the 

 pectorals have 13 or 14 rays, and the ventrals loor u. The ventrals 

 start below the last ray of the dorsal and midway between the snout 

 and the base of the caudal. Both dorsal and anal are higher in 

 front than behind. There are from 50 to 53 scales in the lateral 

 line, though exceptionally there are a few less. The scales are of 

 good size, thin, and not so wide as they are high ; on those of the 

 back and abdomen are stellate or spiny ossicles. The body is four- 

 sided in shape, the back and sides and abdomen being divided off 

 by 4 well-marked ridges. The mouth extends to the front edge of 

 the silvery eye, the upper jaw being the longer. In colour the 

 Argentine is yellowish above, silvery blue on the sides, and yellow 

 below. It is a deep-water fish, rather uncommon, and about 9 

 inches long. 



Argyropelecus, Plate xxiv. STERNOPTYCHIDJE. 



187. kemigyninvs. Head and trunk large and flat, and dotted along lower 

 edge with a row of ocellated spots. 



The dorsal fin has 6 spines and 7 or 8 rays, the anal has 11 or 12 

 rays, the caudal 19 ; the pectorals have 10 rays and the ventrals 6. 

 The fore part of this curious fish is flat and almost square, the 



