136 PHYSOSTOMI. 



Genus V. — Argentina, Artedi. 



Sihis, Gill. (Scales spiny.') 



Branchiostegals six: pseudohrancMce nvell developed. Cleft of month small, the 

 nipper jaw rather short, not extending to below the orbit, formed by short premaxil- 

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

 minute 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. lioglossa). First dorsal fin 

 short and 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 

 pneumatic duct. 



Dr. Giinther observes (Introcl. Study of Fish. p. 650) that both u Argentina 

 silus 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 difference 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 | 0, P. 13-14, V. 11, A. 12-13, L. 1. 50-53, 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 sphyrasna, 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, Peches, 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. Merid. iii, p. 462 ; Cuv. Mem. Mus. i, 

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

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

 and Christ. Vid. Sels. Forh. 1879, i, p. 92 ; Malm, Fauna, p. 550 ; Canestrini, 

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

 Pesc. Ital. p. 42 ; Moreau, Poiss. France, iii, p. 554, f . 208. 



Osmerus Hebridicus, Yarrell, Supp. Brit. Fish, and Ed. 2, ii, p. 133. 



Argentina Cuvieri 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. 



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



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



? Argentina 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(£:f) [0, P. 13-14, V. 10-11, A. 12-13 (£$>), C. 19, L. 1. (45) 



50-53, L. tr. |, Vert. 32, Ccec. pyl. 5-20. 



Length of head 4 to 4f , of caudal fin .7|, height of body 5f to 8 in the total 

 length, varying according to age, being deepest in adults. Eyes — with moderately 

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



