136 PHYSOSTOMI. 



Genus V. — Argentina, Artedi. 



Silus, Gill. (Scales spiny.') 



Branahiostegals six : pseudohrancMce well developed. Cleft of mouth small, the 

 upper jaw rather short, not extending to helow the orbit, formed by short premaxil- 

 laries anteriorly and the maxillaries laterally. Eye large. No teeth in the jaws, 

 ininiite ones across head of vomer and anterior portion of palatines : a row of curved 

 teeth on the anterior portion of the tongue (except in A. lioglossd). First dorsal fin 

 short a7id inserted in advance of the ventrals : adipose fin present. Caudal forked. 

 Scales rather large. Stomach large, with a cul-de-sac : pyloric appendages short, 

 and in small or moderate numbers. Ova small, falling into the cavity of the abdomen 

 before extrusion. Air-bladder small, and (according to Cuvier) destitute of a 

 pnewnaiic duct. 



Dr. Giintlier observes (Introd. Study of Fish. p. 650) tliat both "Argentina 

 sihis and A. Hebridica have been found occasionally on the North British coasts." 

 I have been unable to ascertain any record of the former, except an example of 

 A. sphyrcena, thus termed by Edward, but which he considered identical with my 

 figured species : while A. sphyrcena and A. Hebridica are two names for the same 

 species. The diiference between the two species is as follows : — 



Argentina silus, D. 11-12 | 0, P. 17-18, V. 12-13, A. 14, L. 1. 60-65, Vert. 65. 



Argentina sphyrcena, D. 9-11 1 0, P. 13-14, V. 11, A. 12-13, L. 1. 60-53, Vert. 

 50-52. 



Geographical distribution. — Rather small marine forms found in the seas of 

 Europe, often at considerable depths : two species have likewise been taken off the 

 West coast of New Zealand. 



Argentina sphyrsena, Plate CXXV. 



Sphyrcena parva. Rondel, i, p. 227, c. fig. ; Gesner, Aquat. pp. 883, 1061. 

 Argentina, Willughby, p. 229 ; Ray, p. 108 ; Artedi, Syn. p. 17 and Genera, p. 8. 

 Argentine ou Peis-argent, Duhamel, Peohes, pt. ii, Sec. 3, p. 129. 



Argentina sphyrcena, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 518 ; Lacep. v, p. 366 ; Gmel. 

 Linn. p. 1394 ; Bonnat. Ency. Ich. p. 177, pi. 73, f. 301 ; Brunn. Ich. Mass. p. 79, 

 no. 96 ; Risso, Ich. Nice, p. 336 and Eur. Mcrid. iii, p. 462 ; Cuv. Mem. Mus. i, 

 p. 228, pi. xi, f. 1; Bonap. Catal. no. 131 ; Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 287; Kroyer, 

 Dan. Fiske, iii, p. 100 ; Giinther, Catal. vi, p. 203 ; Collett, Norges Fiske, p. 171 

 and Christ. Vid. Sels. Forh. 1879, i, p. 92 ; Malm, Fauna, p. 650 ; Canestrini, 

 Fauna Ital. p. 129 ; Day, Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. xv, p. 78, pi. iv ; Giglioli, Cat. 

 Peso. Ital. p. 42 ; Moreau, Poiss. France, iii, p. 654, f . 208, 



Osmerus Hehriclicus, Tarrell, Supp. Brit. Fish, and Ed. 2, ii, p. 133. 



Argentina Guvieri and Yarrellii, Cuv. and Val. xxi, pp. 413, 418. 



Argentina Hebridica, Nilss. Skand. Fauna, Fish. p. 474; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. 

 (ed. 3) i, p. 300 ; Giinther, Catal. vi, p. 203. 



Hebridal smelt. Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, iv, p. 297, pi. ccxxxiii. 



Goniosoma argentinum., Costa, Fauna Napol. pi. xxxvi. 



.'' Argentiim decagon, Clarke, Trans, and Proc. N. Zealand Inst. 1878, xi, p. 296, 

 pi. xiv, f. 2. 



Argentina silus, Edward, Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. xv, 1881, p. 334 (not 

 Ascanius). 



B. vi, D. 9-ll(|:|) |0, P. 13-14, V. 10-11, A. 12-13 (JL-Jq), C. 19, L. 1. (45) 



60-53, L. tr. i. Vert. 32, Ccec. pyl. 5-20. 



Length of head 4 to 4f, of caudal fin 7|, height of body 6f to 8 in the total' 

 length, varying according to age, being deepest in aduHs. Eyes— yviih. moderately 

 viide adipose lids, the anterior lid overlapping the posterior above the centre 



