4 6 



ZOOLOGICAL 



FISTULAEIID^I (Flute-Mouths). Plate 24, Map iv. 



The members of this family, seven or eight of which are known, are 

 sometimes described as "gigantic marine Sticklebacks." They are found in 

 most tropical and subtropical seas, generally near the shore. Fistularia 

 tabaccaria grows to a length of six feet. The genus Aulostoma is sometimes 

 referred to a separate family, as are also Aulorhynchus and Auliscus. 



GASTROSTEnXE (Sticklebacks). Plate 24, Map iv. 



These well-known little fishes are found in both fresh and salt water, and 

 are entirely restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. They are remarkable for 

 their nest-building habits, the male undertaking this duty and also that of 

 guarding the eggs until hatched. Five species are found in British waters, 

 the Three-spined and Ten-spined Sticklebacks (Gastrosteus aculeatus and 

 pungitius) being among the most familiar of our native fishes. Almost 

 identical forms inhabit Europe and North America, rendering an exact 

 estimate of the number of species a difficult matter; probably, however, 

 about a dozen may be regarded as distinct. 



LAMPRIDID.E (The Opah or King-Fish). Plate 24, Map v. 



The sole representative of this family is a handsome and bulky fish, known 

 as the Opah or King-Fish {Lampris luna). It occurs in the North Atlantic, 

 the Mediterranean, and certain parts of the Pacific, and is not very un- 

 common off the British coasts. It attains a length of about four feet, and is 

 said to be excellent eating. 



FIERASFERID.E (Pearl-Fishes). Plate 24, Map v. 



About 10 species of this family are known ; all are small eel-shaped fishes 

 belonging to a single genus, Fierasfer. They are remarkable for the fact 

 that they spend the whole of their lives as commensals within the bodies of 

 Holothurians (Sea Cucumbers), starfishes, or bivalved molluscs. They are 

 found near the coasts of nearly all tropical and subtropical seas, and one 

 species (F. dentaius) has occurred off the coasts of Ireland. 



NOTACANTHIDuE (Thornbacks). Plate 24, Map v. 



The Notacanthidse are elongated deep-sea fishes found in the Mediter- 

 ranean Sea and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, occurring at depths of 400 

 to 1875 fathoms. Nine species have been described, belonging to the two 

 genera Notacanihus and Polyacanthonotus. 



PERCOPSID.E (Trout-Perches). Plate 24, Map v. 



Only two species, each belonging to a distinct genus, are referred to this 

 purely North- American family. The first of these {Percopsis guttata) abounds 

 in the great lakes and their tributaries, occurring also in various rivers of 

 Canada and the United States. The other species {Columbia transmontana) 

 is much rarer, occurring only in lagoons in the lower basin of the Columbia 

 Biver in the Western States. Both these fishes are remarkable for the 

 possession of the so-called adipose fin, so characteristic of the Salmon and its 

 allies. 



AMBLYOPSID.E (Blind-Fishes). Plate 24, Map vi. 



This family includes three genera and six species, which occur only in 

 ditches, streams, and subterranean waters within a restricted area in the 

 Eastern United States. The best-known representative is the famous Blind- 

 Fish (Amblyopsis spelsea), inhabiting the Kentucky and other caves east of 

 the Mississippi. This species, and two others found in similar situations, 

 have only rudimentary eyes, and appear to depend largely for their safety on 

 the sense of touch, which is highly developed. 



CYPRINODONTID.E (Killifishes). Plate 24, Map vi. 



The Cyprinodontidae inhabit fresh or brackish waters in the warmer 

 portions of both hemispheres, but of the 200 known species about 170 are 

 natives of America. One of the most interesting genera of the family is 

 Anableps, which contains three species inhabiting Tropical America, and 

 known as Double-eyes or Four- eyed Fishes. In these curious fishes the eyes 

 are divided into two portions, an upper and a lower, so that the creature 

 when swimming near the surface can see into the air and into deep water at 

 the same time. 



KNERIIDjE (Kneria). Plate 24, Map vi. 

 This small family contains only two species, placed in a single genus 

 (Kneria), and is confined to fresh waters in Angola and East Africa re- 

 spectively. They are small fishes, from two to four inches in length, with 

 a somewhat Loach-like general appearance. 



SCOPELIM (Lantern-Fishes, &c). Plate 24, Map vi. 

 The Scopelidse are a large and universally distributed family, containing 

 over 100 species, many of which are deep-sea forms of much interest. l£ 

 correlation with their life at great depths, they are often provided with 

 phosphorescent spots on the head and body, while in one genus (Ipnops) 

 the eye is modified from a light-perceiving to a light-producing organ 

 Bathypterois is an interesting genus, discovered by the " Challenger " ex- 

 pedition, and remarkable for the extraordinarily elongated pectoral rays 

 which act as organs of touch; one species, B. dubius, has recently been 

 found in deep water off the S.-W. coast of Ireland. The four known 

 species occurred at a depth varying from 520 to 2650 fathoms. Scopelus 

 engraulis, one of the best-known representatives of the family, is sometimes 

 called the "Phosphorescent Sardine." 



ESOCID-ffi (Pikes). Plate 25, Map i. 



This group includes six or seven species of carnivorous and voracious 

 fresh-water fishes, which are exclusively confined to the temperate and sub 

 arctic portions of the Northern Hemisphere. Esox, the typical w en 

 contains four or five species, including Esox lucius, the only representati ' 

 of the family in Britain, occurring also in Northern Asia and North Ameri 

 The second genus, Umbra, contains two species, one occurring in Austro' 

 Hungary, and the other in Canada and the United States. 



HAPLOCHITONID^ (Southern Salmon). Plate 25, Map i. 

 Only four species of this family are known, one belonging to the typical 

 genus Haplochiton and three to Prototroctes. The first-named occurs in the 

 extreme south of South America and in the Falkland Islands, while the 

 other three are natives of New Zealand, South Australia and Queensland 

 respectively. They are all Trout-like in appearance, and are exclusively 

 confined to fresh water. 



GALAXIID-S (Pikelets). Plate 25, Map i. 



About 30 species are referred to this family, and they are chiefly confined 

 to fresh waters in the Southern Hemisphere, although one species occurs also 

 in the sea. The peculiar distribution of these fishes, as shown on the map 

 added to the fact that one or two species at least are partially marine' 

 furnishes a strong argument in favour of the theory that there formerly 

 existed a huge Antarctic continent, connecting the remote areas inhabited 

 by the Galaxiidse, now so remote from one another. 



MUR-SNID^l (Mursenoid Eels, &c). Plate 25, Map i. 



This family is a large one, containing about 150 species of universal 

 distribution. They are most abundant in warm seas, especially in the neigh- 

 bourhood of coral reefs. The Murry (Mursena helena) is much esteemed as 

 food in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, and was a oreat 

 favourite with the ancient Romans. It has occurred, though very rarely off 

 the coast of England. Several remarkable deep-sea forms belong to this 

 family, and these are often placed in separate families. Saccopharynx and 

 its allies are among the most extraordinary-looking fishes known, possessing 

 a pharynx and stomach so dilatable that the fish is able to swallow another 

 one much larger than itself. These and other interesting forms occur down 

 to a depth of 2000 fathoms. 



ANQUILLIDJG (Typical Eels). Plate 25, Map ii. 



The Typical Eels, of which about 150 species are known, occur in all 

 temperate and tropical seas, while a few species also inhabit fresh water. 

 Many are deep-sea forms and occur down to 2500 fathoms. Two species 

 occur in British waters, namely, the Common Eel (Anguilla vulgaris) and the 

 Conger {Conger vulgaris), both of which are abundant and widely-distributed 

 within the British area. The Common Eel has also a wide range in the 

 Northern Hemisphere and descends to the sea to spawn ; while the Conger is 

 almost cosmopolitan in its distribution. Many species of Anguillkke are 

 important articles of food. 



SYMBRANCHID.E (Single-Slit Eels). Plate 25, Map ii. 



Half a dozen species only are referred to this family, three of which occur 

 in India, the Malay Archipelago, China and Japan ; two in Australia and 

 Tasmania, and one in Central and South America. The Australian forms 

 are marine, but all the" rest inhabit fresh or brackish waters. 



LORICARIID.E (Mailed Cat-Fishes). Plate 25, Map ii. 



This is an interesting family, containing some 200 species, which are 

 confined to the Neotropical Begion, and are exclusively inhabitants of fresh 

 waters. Fourteen genera have been recognised, which are grouped into two 

 sub-families. In one, the Arginse, the body is naked ; while in the other, 

 the typical one, Loricariines, the body is protected by bony plates. 



SILURID^: (Cat-Fishes). Plate 25, Map ii. 



This is one of the most important families of fishes, containing over a 

 thousand species. These are, with a few exceptions, confined to fresh 

 waters, and occur in nearly all the temperate and tropical portions of the 

 world. In North America they do not occur west of the Rocky 

 Mountains. At least 120 genera are differentiated by our modern 

 authorities, and these are arranged in no fewer than eight sub-families. 

 Although occurring in Central Europe, they are entirely absent from the 

 western portion of the continent, including Britain. Madagascar possesses 

 representatives, but New Zealand has none. 



CYPRINID.E (Carps, &c). Plate 25, Map iii. 



The Carp family is an extensive one, containing about 1300 species. 

 They are exclusively fresh-water fishes, and occur in all parts of the world, 

 except South America, Madagascar and the Australian region. In Europe, 

 Asia and North America they outnumber all other fresh-water fishes, but 

 in Africa they are comparatively feebly represented, only about 100 

 species occurring in that continent. Sixteen species occur in Britain, 

 including the Barbel {Barbus vulgaris); Gudgeon {Gobio fluviatilis) ; Roach, 

 Chub, Dace, Rudd and Minnow {Leuciscus spp.); Tench {Tinea vidgaris); 

 Bream (Abramis brama); and Loach {Nemachilus barbatulus). 



GYMNOTID.E (Electric Eels). Plate 25, Map iii. 



The Gymnotidse are a group of about 30 species of fishes, entirely con- 

 fined to the fresh waters of Central and South America. Although some- 

 what like Eels in external appearance, these fishes are not related to them 

 structurally, but are nearly allied to the Characinidse, which are dealt with 



