232 SALT-WATER MSHES 



There seems to have been some confusion in name between 

 this fish and the last, but " scald-fish " is so descriptive that 

 preference may be given to it. It has a wider range than many 

 of our flat-fish, for it occurs both in the far North and in 

 the Mediterranean. It was trawled at Plymouth in June, 

 1897, and its eggs were hatched in the Association's tanks. 

 Professor Herdman * mentions it as occasionally trawled in 

 the estuary of the Dee, and says that in that locality it attains 

 only to a length of about 7 in. This, however, appears to 

 be near the limit of its growth elsewhere as well, though 

 Cunningham mentions one of 8 in. taken near Plymouth. 



The scald-fish spawns in April and May. The egg is 

 very small, measuring in diameter only -^ in., and has a 

 single oil-globule. According to Ehrenbaum the larva 

 measured about ^ in. or rather less, and showed touches of 

 red. Holt describes young scald-fish of an inch in length 

 with black dots irregularly distributed on the body. 



The allied A. grohmanni was trawled at Plymouth in 1897 

 and 1898, and Holt describes the egg as measuring about 

 •^ in., with a single oil-globule, and larva as distinguished 

 by two dark bands, one near the tail. The eggs have 

 also been taken at the surface in the neighbourhood of the 

 Eddystone Lighthouse. 



The Topknots commonly described as British are three 

 in number. 



Miiller's Topknot (^Zeugopterus punctatus), or Common 

 Topknot, otherwise " Browny," is a small brown fish with 

 large dark blotches, growing to a length of 6 or 7 in 

 The skin is very rough, owing to the spinous scales, 

 and the fins extend right around the edge of the body, joining 

 the tail. The head is short, the mouth large, and there 

 are teeth in a band on the jaws and on the vomer. On the 

 lower, colourless side the skin is smooth. 



This topknot is not found in the Mediterranean, but 

 * Fishes and Fisheries of the Irish Sea, p. 52. 



