96 E. LÖNNBERG, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FAUNA OF SOUTH GEORGIA. 



These fishes live at the bottom and were caught with »pilk». When brought 

 11 p in the air they died verv soon, stifled in conseqnence of their very large gill- 

 openings, and then opened their mouths wide open. But although the fish is dead, 

 the muscles retain vitality for a long tinie so that, even when the fish is cut to 

 pieces, contractions of the muscles may be observed, Sörling says. Probably in con- 

 seqnence of this and of its ugly look, this fish was less estimated as food although 

 it did not taste bad, according to Sörling's opinion. 



Parachcenichthys georgianus was often infested by leeches. 



ChampSOCeplialtlS gunnari Lönnberg 1905. 



2 specimens caught abont 90 kilometres off Cnmberland Bay, in the open sea, abont 6 fatlioms from 

 the surface the It of March 1905. 



4 specimens canght abont 50 kilometres off Bay of Isles, in the open sea the 20th of April 1905. 



The last 4 specimens are the largest, measuring about 40 — 44 cm. As several 

 of the specimens collected by the Swedish Expedition 1902 (10) were of the same 

 size this may be regarded as the average size of the adult fish of this species. The 

 two others which are about 10 — 12 cm. shorter, correspond also in size with some 

 of the specimens from 1902 (10) and may be regarded to be a year younger. 



The new experience received about this fish, teaches us that it leads at least 

 partly a pelagic life off the coast. The stomachs of the specimens collected by 

 Sörling were filled with remains of shrimp-like crustaceans (perhaps large Eu- 

 phausiids). 



The specimens caught in April were 3 males and one female. Two of the for- 

 mer had the testidés not much developed, but in a stage indicating beginning growth. 

 In the third the development had gone further, perhaps between a third and a half 

 of the full growth. In the female the ovaries were somewhat swelled, and the eggs 

 measured in a preserved state about V/ 3 mm. in diameter. If these facts are compared 

 with those recorded before (10) according to which the eggs of this fish in the låter 

 part of May were found to have a diameter between 3 and 4 mm., it seems as if 

 the development of the genital organs should be rather rapid at this time of the 

 year, and thus the spawning take place at the end of May or beginning of June. The 

 present writer has before (10) expressed the probability of the eggs of Ch. gunnari 

 being demersal. 



This species is probably so common that it might become of economic value, but 

 as it lived a little deeper below the surface, it was not so much observed as Noto- 

 thenia macroc. marmorata, and consequently not the object of any fishing in a 

 great scale. 



