



ZOOLOGICAL 



45 



HOPLOGNATHID^l (Knife-Jawed Fishes). Plate 23, Map v. 

 This group contains only a single genus (Hoplognathus) with four species. 

 These occur on the coasts of Australia, Japan and Peru. 



CEPOLIDiE (Band-Fishes). Plate 23, Map vi. 

 This family is a small one, containing only 10 species, which are found 

 m scattered localities in various seas. Only two genera are recognised, the 

 typical one (Cepola) containing the only British representative of the family, 

 viz., the Red Band-Fish (C. rubescens). This species ranges from British 

 coasts, where it is only casual, to the Mediterranean, where it is quite 

 common. 



SERRANID.E (Sea Perches, &c). Plate 23, Map vi. 



The Serranidse are an extensive group, comprising a large number of 

 genera and between 500 and 600 species. They have a world-wide distribu- 

 tion, and most of the species are marine. Britain claims four different 

 forms, the best-known and most abundant of which is that known as the 

 Bass (Morone labrax). The Stone-Bass {Polyprion cernium) is another, but 

 somewhat uncommon, British species, well known for its excellent qualities 

 as food. Many of the exotic species of Serranidse are highly valued in 

 various countries for the same reason. 



PERCID^I (Fresh-Water Perches). Plate 23, Map vi. 



The species of this family, about 90 in number, are entirely confined to 

 the fresh waters of the Nearctic and Palsearctic regions. The so-called 

 Pike-Perches (Lucioperca) are among the larger and more important fishes 

 included here. They inhabit the lakes and rivers of Eastern Europe, 

 Western Asia, and Eastern-north America, and are much esteemed as food. 

 Two species of Percidag occur in Britain, viz., the Common Perch (Perca 

 fluviatilis), and the Ruffe or Pope (Acerina cemua). 



NANDID^l (Nandus, &c). Plate 23, Map vi. 



This is a purely fresh-water family, containing six genera and 14 species. 

 Two genera occur widely in South America, three in South-eastern Asia, 

 and one in a restricted area at the mouth of the River Niger, in West 

 Africa. All the members of this family possess carnivorous habits. 



CENTRARCHID.E (Black Bass, &c). Plate 24, Map i. 



This family, which contains about 30 species, is specially characteristic 

 of the United States of America, where some of the forms are particularly 

 abundant. They are essentially fresh-water fishes, but a few are found in 

 brackish water. In America they are collectively known as " Sun-Eishes," 

 but must not be confounded with the members of the family Molidaa, which 

 bear the same popular name. The fishes known as Black Bass (Micropterus) 

 are excellent eating, and have been introduced into the streams of Europe. 

 The family is also represented in South Africa, Madagascar, the East Indies, 

 Australia and Polynesia. 



BERYCID-51 (Slime-Heads). Plate 24, Map i. 



Over 70 species belonging to this family have been described, and these 

 occur all over the world, principally in deep water. They owe their some- 

 what repellent popular name to the fact that the head is furnished with 

 a number of cavities, filled with mucus and covered over with skin. 

 Members of the typical genus Beryx have been taken from a depth of over 

 300 fathoms ; some of them are valued as food. A species of this family 

 (Trachichthys trachichthys) has recently been discovered in deep water 

 off the west coast of Ireland. 



GADID£1 (Codfishes). Plate 24, Map i. 



This is a large family, of much importance from an economic point of 

 view. About 120 species are known, and these inhabit chiefly the seas of 

 the Northern Hemisphere, while a few forms live exclusively in fresh water. 

 The British fauna comprises about 20 species, some of which are among the 

 most valuable of fishes for the table. The Cod, Haddock, Whiting, Pollack, 

 and Coal- Fish are all members of the typical genus Gadus, and more or less 

 abundant off our coasts ; while the Hake (Merluccius vulgaris), Ling (Molva 

 molva), and five species of Rockling (Motella), are well-known British repre- 

 sentatives. The best-known fresh-water member of the family is the 

 Burbot or Eel-Pout (Lota lota), which occurs locally in England, in Northern 

 and Central Europe and Siberia, and in North America. 



MACRURID^: (Long-Tails). Plate 24, Map i. 



This family is closely allied to the Gadida?, and contains about the same 

 number of species (120). They are essentially fishes of the deep sea, occur- 

 ring to a depth of 2650 fathoms. The various forms are found in all seas, 

 and are remarkable for the shape of the tail, which is long and pointed 

 (whence the popular name) and devoid of an expanded fin. One species 

 has occasionally occurred in British seas. 



ANABANTID^ (Climbing Perches). Plate 24, Map ii. 



These remarkable fishes inhabit fresh waters and estuaries in the 

 Ethiopian and Oriental regions, and include about 15 species, 11 of which 

 are confined to Africa. They owe their English name to their wonderful 

 power of ascending trees, sometimes to a height of several feet. The ascent 

 is accomplished by means of the spines on the gill-covers and ventral fins. 



OPHIOCEPHALID.E (Serpent-Heads). Plate 24, Map ii. 



The distribution of this family is very similar to that of the previous 

 one, although ranging further north in Asia, and being more restricted in 

 Africa. They are all fresh-water forms, and of carnivorous habits. Over 

 30 species have been described, of which only three occur in Africa. 



STROM ATEIDJE (Butter-Fishes). Plate 24, Map ii. 



These fishes have a wide distribution, occurring in all tropical and 

 temperate seas. Between 40 and 50 species have been described, the best- 

 known of which are the so-called Black Fish (Centrolophus niger) and the 

 Rudder-Fish (Lirus perciformis), both of which are occasionally caught off 

 the British coast. A Mediterranean species, Stromateus fiatola, called the 

 "fiatola" by Italian fishermen, is much esteemed for its qualities as food. 



SPHYR^NIDuE (Barracudas). Plate 24, Map ii. 



About 20 species, belonging to a single genus (Sphyrsena) are referred 

 to this family. They inhabit nearly all tropical and temperate seas, and 

 are often found also in estuaries. Attaining a large size (sometimes eight 

 feet) they are justly feared by the bather, for they are reported to be of 

 pugnacious habits, and more dangerous than many sharks. They are some- 

 times eaten, but at certain seasons are said to be poisonous. 



POLYNEMIDJS (Threadfins). Plate 24, Map ii. 



These fishes, which are remarkable for the curious tactile appendages 

 forming part of the pectoral fin, are inhabitants of the shores of all tropical 

 and subtropical seas, sometimes ascending the mouths of rivers. Three 

 genera have been described, with about 25 species. Certain East-Indian 

 species yield a sort of isinglass, while their flesh is much esteemed. 



MUGILID.E (Grey Mullets). Plate 24, Map iii. 



This family contains about 100 species, most of which have a high value 

 as food. They occur on the coasts of all temperate and tropical regions, 

 and many species inhabit fresh water. Three species occur in British seas, 

 the best-known of which is the Common Grey Mullet (Mugil capito). This 

 species has a remarkably wide distribution, ranging from the Cape of Good 

 Hope northwards to Scandinavia. 



ATHERINID.S (Sand-Smelts, &c). Plate 24, Map iii. 



The fishes of this family are mostly small creatures, yet in spite of this 

 fact are much valued for food. They occur on the coasts of nearly all 

 temperate and tropical regions, two species being inhabitants of British 

 waters. Some forms are found in fresh water, and all are of carnivorous 

 habits. About 65 species have been described, which have been relegated 

 to about a dozen different genera. 



AMMODYTID.E (Sand-Eels). Plate 24, Map iii. 



This is a small family, containing only two genera and nine species. 

 They are confined to the coasts of the Northern Hemisphere, and are very 

 common on the sandy shores of Europe and North America. Two species,. 

 the Greater Sand-Eel (Ammodytes lanceolatus) and the Lesser Sand-Eel 

 (A. tobianus) are common on British coasts. 



SCOMBRESOCnXE (Gar-Pike, Flying-Fish, &c). Plate 24, Map iii. 



The Scombresocidse are an extensive group, comprising over 200 species,, 

 and occurring in all temperate and tropical seas. Three or four species are 

 found in British waters, the best-known of which is the so-called Gar-Pike 

 or Gar-Fish (Belone vulgaris), a common inhabitant of our coasts. The 

 most interesting members of the family are, however, the Flying-Fishes of 

 the genus Exocoztus. These remarkable fishes are well-known to every 

 ocean-traveller, and some 40 or 50 species have been described. Fxoccetus 

 volitans is a small form, and has occasionally occurred as a straggler off the 

 British coast. 



PEGASID^! (Dragon-Fishes). Plate 24, Map iii. 



The Dragon-Fishes, of which some half-dozen species are known, are 

 curious little creatures inhabiting the seas of India, China, Japan, the 

 Malay Archipelago, and Australia. They are small fishes, and little appears 

 to be known of their habits. Pegasus volans is probably the most familiar 

 member of the family. 



SYNGNATHID,E (Pipe-Fishes, &c). Plate 24, Map iv. 



The curious elongated fishes of this family are found in the seas of 

 practically the whole world. About 175 species have been described, some 

 of which are remarkable for their extraordinary appearance. Seven species 

 are recorded from British coasts, including three forms of Pipe-Fish (genera 

 Siphonostoma and Syngnathus) and the interesting little Sea-Horse (Hippo- 

 campus hippocampus), the latter, however, being a rare wanderer from more 

 southern seas. The members of the Australian genus Phyllopteryx are 

 remarkable for the possession of a number of dermal appendages, which 

 resemble very closely the seaweeds among which these fishes live, and hence 

 serve as an effectual means of concealment. 



CENTRISCID^l (Trumpet-Fishes, &c). Plate 24, Map iv. 



This family consists of eight or nine species which occur pretty widely 

 in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Common Snipe-Fish 

 (Centriscus scolopax) occasionally wanders as far as the south coast of 

 Britain, occurring also in the Mediterranean. The Needle-Fishes of 

 the genus Amphisile, which occur in the Indian and Pacific Oceans are 

 sometimes placed in a separate family. 



