ZOOLOGICAL 



47 



below. The best-known member of the present family is the interesting 

 Electric Eel (Gymnotus electricus) of Brazil and Guiana. This creature grows 

 to a length of six or eight feet, and, since the shocks produced by its electric 

 organ are capable of disabling the horses and cattle of travellers who 

 ford the waters which form its home, it is not a little dreaded, or, at least, 

 detested, by them. 



CHARACINIRE. Plate 25, Map iii. 

 This is an extensive family, for which it is difficult to employ a common 

 English name. Some 500 odd species are known, which are distributed only 

 in the fresh waters of Africa, south of the Sahara, and Tropical and Sub- 

 tropical America. They are very varied in structure, and equally diverse in 

 habits. Among the carnivorous species the so-called " Dogs of the Water " 

 of the genus Hydrocyon and the Cariba (genus Serrasalmo) are probably the 

 most formidable, being armed with powerful teeth, which are capable of 

 inflicting dangerous wounds. The former inhabit the Nile and. other rivers 

 and lakes in Tropical Africa ; the latter, many rivers of Tropical America. 



GONORHYNCHID.E (The Beaked Salmon). Plate 25, Map iii. 

 The single species constituting this family is a much elongated fish, which 

 has a wide distribution, occurring off the coasts of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 Australia, New Zealand and Japan; while examples have been recorded 

 from intermediate seas. In New Zealand it is esteemed as food, and takes 

 the name of "Sand-eel" from its occurrence in sandy bays. 



STOMIATID.E. Plate 25, Map iii. 



The Stomiatidse and their allies are a group of about 60 species, found 

 in all seas, and mostly at great depths. Some of the forms included here 

 have an extraordinary appearance, and the majority have a formidable 

 array of teeth. They have been dredged at a depth of 2500 fathoms. 



ALEPOCEPHALID.E (Smooth-Heads). Plate 25, Map iv. 



Like the Stomiatidse, these fishes are found at great depths, and have an 

 almost cosmopolitan distribution. About 35 species have been described, 

 whose structure is said to be similar to that of the Salmon and the Herring 

 tribes. 



SALMONID^ (Salmon, Trout, &c). Plate 25, Map iv. 



This is one of the most important families of fishes from an economic 

 point of view, including as it does some of the most familiar and valuable 

 food fishes. Excluding a few deep-sea forms occurring in the Antarctic 

 Ocean (not shown in the map), the Salmonidse are almost entirely confined 

 to the fresh waters and seas of the Northern Hemisphere. One genus, how- 

 ever, is peculiar to New Zealand. About 80 species are referred to this 

 family, several being natives of Britain. According to some authors, the 

 British list numbers at least 25 different forms, but about half of them 

 must be regarded as mere varieties or local races, especially when it is 

 borne in mind that in many cases they occur only in a single lake. The 

 best-known members of the family are the Salmon (Salmo solar) ; the Trout 

 (S. fario) ; the Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) ; the Powan, Vendace and Pollan 

 (Coregonus spp.); and the Grayling [Thymallus vulgaris). 



CLUPEID^I (Herrings, &c). Plate 25, Map iv. 



This is an almost cosmopolitan family, comprising some 200 different 

 species. Many forms are useful as food, for although small, they occur in 

 immense shoals, and for the fishermen afford a rich harvest. About half 

 a dozen species occur in British seas. The best - known of these are 

 the Herring (Clupea harengus) ; the Sprat (C. sprattus) ; the Pilchard 

 (C pilchardus) ; and the Anchovy (Engraidis encrasicholus), 



CHIROCENTRID.E (The Dorab). Plate 25, Map iv. 



The formidable fish known in the East as the " Dorab " (Chirocentrus 

 dorab) is the only representative of this family. It occurs in the Indian 

 Ocean, the Bed Sea, and the coasts of the Western Pacific, from Japan to 

 Australia. It attains a length of three feet, but is comparatively useless 

 as food. 



PANTODONTID.E (The Chisel-Jaw). Plate 25, Map iv. 



The only member of this family is a small fish discovered comparatively 

 recently in the rivers of certain parts of West Africa. Its scientific name 

 is Pantodon buchholzi, while its popular one of " Chisel- Jaw " bears reference 

 to the strong teeth with which the jaws are furnished. 



OSTEOGLOSSID-S1 (Arapaimas). Plate 25, Map v. 



The five known species of this family have an interesting distribution, 

 while that known as the true Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) is worthy of 

 special mention, since it is the largest known fresh-water fish. This huge 

 creature grows to a length of at least 15 feet, and often weighs over 400 

 lbs. It is confined to the larger rivers of Brazil and Guiana, and its flesh 

 is much esteemed, both fresh and salted. Of the four remaining species 

 one belonging to the typical genus (Osleoglossum) is South American; one 

 is confined to Tropical Africa ; one is found only in Sumatra, Borneo, and 

 Banka ■ while the fourth inhabits Northern Australia. All the members of 

 the family are confined to fresh waters. 



NOTOPTERID-ffi (Feather-Backs). Plate 25, Map v. 



This is a group comprising four species, which inhabit fresh and brackish 

 lakes and marshes in Western Tropical Africa and certain parts of the 

 Oriental Region. They are carnivorous fishes, the largest growing to a 

 length of four feet. 



HYODONTID^I (Moon-Eyes) . Plate 25, Map v. 



This family is entirely restricted to the fresh waters of that portion of 

 North America which lies to the east of the Rocky Mountains. They are 

 handsome fishes, attaining a length of about 18 inches, but their flesh is 

 said to be rather insipid. 



MORMYRID-E (African Beaked Fishes). Plate 25, Map v. 



About 100 species of this family are known, which are entirely confined 

 to the fresh waters of Africa, principally between the Tropics. Ten genera 

 have been described, which are grouped into two sub-families. One species, 

 at least, was known to the ancient Egyptians, and is frequently represented 

 on hieroglyphics and frescoes. Although such a large group, very little is 

 known of their habits. 



ELOPID-E (The Tarpon, &c). Plate 25, Map v. 



Only four species, placed in two genera, are referred to this family. 

 Mops, the typical genus, contains two species, one of which occurs through- 

 out warm and tropical seas, while the other appears to be confined to 

 the west coast of Africa, where it ascends the rivers to some distance. 

 Megalops, the second genus, contains two species of much larger fishes, the 

 better known of which is the Tarpon (M. atlanticus) of the eastern coasts 

 of America, including the Gulf coast of Florida. This fish affords exciting 

 sport to the angler, attains a length of six feet, and is much esteemed for 

 the table. 



ORDER H0L0STEI. 



LEPIDOSTEID.E (Bony Pike, &c). Plate 25, Map vi. 



This family comprises some four or five species, which all belong to a 

 single genus, and are confined to the fresh waters of the south-eastern portion 

 of North America, Central America and Cuba. The best-known species is 

 probably that known as the Long-nosed Gar-Pike (Lepidosteus osseus), which 

 is fairly abundant in the rivers and lakes of the United States, attaining a 

 length of five feet. 



AMIID^I (The Bow-Fin). Plate 25, Map vi. 



The sole representative of this family is the archaic-looking fish known 

 as the Bow-Ein (Amia calva). It is confined to the fresh waters of the 

 eastern half of the United States, and attains a length of about 2| feet. 

 Although not much used as food, it is yet a favourite with the angler, on 

 account of its sporting qualities. 



ORDER CH0NDR0STEI. 



ACIPENSERID^l (Sturgeons). Plate 25, Map vi. 



The members of this family are found in both seas and fresh waters, and 

 are entirely confined to the temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern 

 hemisphere. Only two genera are known, with about 20 species. Many of 

 these are abundant in certain inland seas, such as the Black Sea and the 

 Caspian, while they inhabit also many of the larger rivers. One species, 

 known as the Common Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) occurs on British coasts and 

 enters rivers, but is of somewhat uncertain occurrence. From a commercial 

 point of view this family is of much importance, since certain species furnish 

 the delicacy known as " caviare," while from the air-bladder is prepared the 

 important commodity so familiar under the name of isinglass. 



POLYODONTID-E (Toothed Sturgeons). Plate 25, Map vi. 



This family is represented by two species, each belonging to a separate 

 genus. The typical genus Polyodon contains the curious Paddle-Eish (P. 

 folium) which is confined to the Mississippi and its tributaries. Psephurus 

 gladius, the second species, occurs only in China, where it inhabits the 

 Yang-tse and Hoang-ho rivers. 



ORDER CROSSOPTERYGII. 



POLYPTERID^S (The Bichir, &c). Plate 26, Map i. 



The ten species which form this family are the sole living representatives 

 of the order. They are entirely confined to the fresh waters of Western 

 Tropical Africa, six species being restricted to the Congo and its tributaries. 

 Two genera are differentiated, the best-known species being the so-called 

 Bichir (Polypterus bichir). Calamichthys, the second genus, contains a 

 single species only (C. calabaricus). 



ORDER H0L0CEPHALI. 



CKIM.JEB,IDJE (Ohimseras). Plate 26, Map i. 



The Chimseridse have a wide distribution, the half-dozen known species 

 occurring practically in all seas. The typical genus, Chimaera, contains 

 three species, one of which ranges from Europe to Japan and the Cape of 

 Good Hope, while many examples have been captured in British seas, and 

 as far north as the Orkneys. A second genus, Callorhynchus, contains a 

 single species confined to the South Pacific and the Antarctic Basin. 



