214 



NATURE 



\7an. 6, 1 88 1 



respectively consist of three, one, and two genera. 

 Gadidse, Ophidiida:, and Macruridas are very numerous, 

 ranging through all depths ; they constitute about one-fourth 

 of the whole deep-sea fauna. Of Physostomi, the families 

 of Sternoptychidas, Scopelidae, Stomiatidse, Salmonidffi, 

 Bathythrissida;, AIepocephalida2, Halosauridae, and 

 Mursnidas are represented. Of these the Scopeloids are 

 the most numerous, constituting nearly another fourth of 

 the fauna. Salmonidae are scarce, with three small 

 genera only. Bathythrissida; includes one species only, 

 which is probably confined in its vertical as well as 

 horizontal range : it {Bathythrissa dorsalis) occurs at a 

 depth of about 350 fatho:ns in the sea of Japan. The 

 Alepocephalidse and Halo5aurida:, known before the 

 Challenger Expedition from isolated examples only, prove 

 to be true, widely spread, deep-sea types. Eels are well 

 represented, and seem to descend to the greatest depths ; 

 Myxine has been obtained from a depth of 345 fathoms. 



In the systematic portion Dr. Giiulher divides the class 

 of fishes into four sub-classes — the first Palreichthyes, the 

 second Teleostei, the third Cyclostomata, and the fourth 

 Leptocardii. The description of each order, sub-order, 

 and family is given. In addition we have the diagnosis 

 of all the more important genera, and under these are 

 given the names of the species of economic value or 

 special scientific interest. We select the following 

 account of two interesting genera as examples taken from 

 (, the eighth family of the sharks, Spinacedas : — 



" AcANTHiAS. — Each dorsal fin with a spine. Teeth 

 equal in both jaws, rather small ; their point is so much 

 turned aside that the inner margin of the tooth forms the 

 cutting edge. Spiracles rather wide, immediately behind 

 the eye. 



" The two species of ' Spiny Dog Fishes,' A. vulgaris 

 and A. Blainvillii, have a very remarkable distribution, 

 being found in the temperate seas of the Northern and 

 Southern Hemispheres, but not in the intermediate 

 tropical zone. They are of small size, but occur at times 

 in incredible numbers, as many as 20,000 having been 

 taken in one season on the Cornish coast. They do 

 much injury to the fishermen by cutting their lines and 

 carrying oft' their hooks. 



" Centrophorus — Each dorsal fin with a spine, which 

 however is sometimes so small as to be hidden below the 

 skin ; mouth wide ; teeth of the lower jaw with the point 

 more or less inclined backwards and outwards ; upper 

 teeth erect, triangular, or narrow, lanceolate with a single 

 cusp ; spiracles wide, behind the eye. 



" Eight species are known from the southern parts of 

 the European seas and one from the Moluccas ; they do 

 not appear to exceed a length of five feet. According to 

 the observations of E. P. Wright some of the species at 

 least live at a considerable depth, perhaps at a greater 

 depth than any of the other known sharks. The Portu- 

 guese fishermen fish for them in 400 to 500 fathoms with 

 a line of some 600 fathoms in length. The sharks caught 

 were specimens of Cenlrophon/s nvlolepis, from three to 

 four feet long ; the sharks as they were, hauled into the 

 boat fell down into it like so many dead pigs, there was 

 not the smallest motion of their bodies. There can be 

 no reasonable doubt that they were inhabitants of the 

 same great depth as Hyalonema ; and that in fact they 

 were killed by being dragged to the surface from the 

 pressure of water under which they lived. The dermal 

 productions of some of the species have a very peculiar 

 form, being leaf-shaped, pedunculate, or ribbed orfronded 

 with an impression." 



One other quotation must suffice ; the Clupeidse forms 



the twenty-second family of the Physostomii, which is the 

 fourth order of the second sub-class ; after enumerating 

 several genera, among them Engraulis, to which the 

 Anchovy belongs, the hint being given that " lucrative 

 fisheries of Anchovies might be established in Tasmania, 

 where the same species occurs, in Chili, China, Japan, 

 California, at Buenos Ayres, each of which countries 

 possesses Anchovies by no means inferior to the Mediter- 

 ranean species ; " the author pioceeds to give the par- 

 ticulars of the genus Clapea. After the scientific descrip- 

 tion he adds : — 



" This genus comprises more than sixty different species 

 The majority are of greater or less utility to man, but a 

 few tropical species (C. thrissa, C. venenosa, and others) 

 acquire probably from their food highly poisonous pro- 

 perties so as to endanger the life of persons eating them. 

 The most noteworthy species are : — 



"i.e. liarengKs (the ' Herring'). It is readily recog- 

 nised by having an ovate patch of very small teeth on the 

 vomer. Gill cover smooth without radiating ridges. It 

 inhabits in incredible numbers the German Ocean, the 

 northern parts of the Atlantic, and the seas north of Asia. 

 The herring of the Atlantic coasts of North America is 

 identical with that of Europe. A second species has been 

 supposed to exist on the British coast (C Leacliii), but it 

 comprises only individuals of a smaller size, the produce 

 of a late or early spawn. Also the so-called ' Whitebait ' is 

 not a distinct species, but consists chiefly of the fry or the 

 young of herrings, and is obtained ' in perfection ' at 

 localities where these small fishes find an abundance of 

 food, as in the estuary of the Thames. 



" 2. C. mirabilis. The herring of the Norlh Pacific. 



" 3. C. sprattus. The ' sprat,' without vomerine teeth. 

 Gill cover smooth, without radiating ridges. Abundant 

 on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. 



" 4. C. thrissa. One of the most common West Indian 

 fishes, distinguished by the last dorsal ray being pro- 

 longed into a filament. HyrtI has discovered a small 

 accessory branchial organ in this species. 



"5. C. alosa. The ' shad ' or 'Allice shad,' with very 

 fine and long gill-rakers, from sixty to eighty on the 

 horizontal part of the outer branchial arch, and with one 

 or more black lateral blotches. Coasts of Europe, ascend- 

 ing rivers. 



"6. C.finta. The 'shad ' or ' Twaite shad,' with stout 

 osseous gill-rakers from twenty one to twenty-seven on 

 the horizontal part of the outer branchial arch, and 

 spotted like the preceding species. Coasts of Europe, 

 ascending rivers and found in abundance in the Nile. 



" 7. C. menhaden. The ' mossbanker,' common on the 

 Atlantic coasts of the United States. The economic value 

 of this fish is surpassed in America only by that of the 

 Gadoids, and is derived chiefly from its use as bait for other 

 fishes and from the oil extracted from it, the annual 

 yield of the latter exceeding that of the whale (from 

 American fisheries). The refuse of the oil factories 

 supplies a material of much value for artificial manures. 



" 8. C. sapidissima. The American shad, abundant 

 and an important food-fish on the Atlantic coasts of North 

 America. Spawns in fresh water. 



'• 9. C. mattoivocea. The ' Gaspereau ' or ' Ale-wife,' 

 common on the Atlantic coasts of North America, ascend- 

 ing into fresh water in early spring and spawning in 

 ponds and lakes. 



" 10. C.pikhardns. The ' Pilchard' or the 'Sardine,' 

 equally abundant in the British Channel, on the coast of 

 Portugal, and in the Mediterranean, and readily recognised 

 by radiating ridges on the operculum, descending towards 

 the sub-operculum. 



"11. C. seigax. Representing the Pilchard in the 

 Pacific, and found in equally large shoals on the coasts 

 of California, Chili, New Zealand, and Japan. 



