THE EUROPEAN SEAS. 



195 



mice, and Conferva?, are the haunts of Blennies, 

 Dragonets (Callyonomus), Gobies, Pipe-fishes (Syn- 

 gnathi), and Sea-snipes (Centrisci). The shelving 

 beds of shingle and sand are the zone of a nume- 

 rous tribe, such as Launces (Ammodytes), Lepido- 

 g aster, Garter-fishes, Lepidotus, Labri, Wrasses 

 (Crenolabri), the Sea-breams (Sparus), Smelts (Os- 

 merus), Gymnetrus, Scopelus (always found in com- 

 pany with the Anchovies), Sardines (Clupanodori), 

 and Mullets. 



The region of Algce and Caulinice is that of the 

 Denzelles (Ophidium), Murcence, Star-gazers ( Urano- 

 scopi), and of the Scorpions (Scorpcence). At depths 

 of twenty-five fathoms or thereabouts, or over the 

 zone of Bryozoa and Zoophytes, are the File-fishes 

 (Batistes) ; also the genera Chaidiodus, Murceno- 

 phis,Labrus, Dentex, Lichia, Peristidium, and certain 

 Gurnards. A muddy sea-bed, with a depth of 

 fifty fathoms, is the favourite abode of the Eay 

 tribe, of the Angler (Lophius), the gigantic Cepha- 

 loptera, and of the Plaice. At like depths, but with- 

 out any special reference to sea-bed, are found 

 Whitings, Cod, Holocentrus, Citula, Seriola, Tetra- 

 gonurus (the "Corbeau" of the Mediterranean), and 

 certain species of Sparus. 



Lowest of all come the Alepocephali, of which 

 Risso remarks that, in common with other fishes 

 taken at depths of 2000 feet and upwards, it 

 has its scales very feebly attached to its skin, the 

 eyes disproportionately large, a large swimming- 



