Pikes, Arapaimas, Beaked Salmon, and Scopelids 655 



from Bombay and the coast of JMalabnr, and forms an indisjiensable adjunct to an Indian curry. 

 This fish apparently inhabits considerable depths, and when freshly taken is brilliantly 

 phosphorescent. Another edible species is the "Sergeant ]",akkr" of Australia, of which a 

 photograph is given on jiage 65o. 



With regard to the deep-sea Scopelids, it is interesting to note that, in addition to very 

 remarkable modifications of the eyes and fins, and the production of pliosphorescent light, 

 certain of the body-cavities are characterised by an intensely black coloration. The inside of 

 the mouth, the gills, and the lining of the abdomen, for example, are alwavs so coloured in 

 those fishes which inhabit the deepest abysses. This coloration is difficult to account for, but 



riioto 1,11 ir. Savillt-Kcal, F.Z.t,.' 



[MUford-O'i-^ea. 



QUEENSLAND SMELT. 

 A near ally of the Bummaloe, or Bombay Duck, tbat indispeosable adjunct to an Indian c\]ny. 



it is generally sujjposed to be due to excretory products. Another interesting point concerns 

 the air-bladder. Whenever this organ is present in the fishes of this or any other family 

 inhabiting the abysses of the ocean, it bursts before the unfortunate victim is brought to the 

 surface, owing to the enormous differences in pressure which obtain between the depths of 

 the sea and the surface. 



CHAPTEE XIII. 



THE SALMON FA JULY. 



BY Sn; HERBERT MAXWELL, BAR'l 



ALTHOUGH the Salmon Family occujjies a low place in the classification of fishes, yet 

 every member thereof is possessed of singular beauty of form and colour. The 

 Atla>'TIC SaLxMON, w^hich is the species frequenting European rivers and those of the 

 eastern coast of North America, may be considered the type of the family, and certainly it 

 would be difficult to name any animal more perfectly adapted to its peculiar mode of life, 

 which is one of constant activity. A native of fresh-water, hatched in early spring from eggs 

 laid in rivers during the winter months, it spends from fifteen to twenty-seven months in the 

 shallows of the river, almost indistinguishable in habits and apiiearance from a small common 

 trout. Sometimes in the second spring after its birth, and failing that, always in the third 

 spring, the fish, having attained the length of 5 or 6 inches, undergoes a wonderful change: 

 its prevailing tints of olive and gold become o\'erspread with a glittering coat of silver, known 



