FLOOR.J 
BRITISH ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 
21 
Pilot (Naucrates), which follows in the wake of ships along with sharks, 
the Horse-mackarels (Caranx), with a very great variety of different 
kinds. Case 11 contains the head of one of the largest fishes of this 
group (a Serranus) ; it is from the Seychelle Islands, where it is 
known as " Vieille " ; some kinds of Angler or Sea-Devil [Lophius) ; the 
Wolf-fish {Anarrhichas), which is nothing but a very large Blenny, and 
able to crush the hardest shells with its fiat, pavement-like teeth on the 
sides of the jaws ; the Herring-kings (Trachypterus, Begalecus), long, 
band-like fishes, with a silvery, scaleless body, and red fins ; specimens 
have been found some twenty feet in length, and were mistaken 
for " sea-serpents ;" they inhabit the greatest depths of the oceans, 
and when, by some accident, they come to the surface of the water, 
their muscles have lost all power, and they float, unable to escape. 
Case 12 contains the Surgeon-fishes (Acanthurus) of the West Indies 
and other parts of the Tropics, armed with one or several lancet- 
like spines on the side of the tail; the grey Mullets (^Mugil); and 
a gigantic example of the Pipe-fish (Fistula ria). 
Wall Cases 13-14 contain the Piock-f[sh or Wrasses, which also 
have numerous spines in the fin of the back, but are provided with 
thick lips, and with a triangular plate of teeth in the gullet. Those 
living in the sea are distinguished by their vivid changeable colours ; 
some of them are called Parrot-fishes {Scarus, Pseudoscarus), from their 
bony jaws, which resemble a parrot's beak, and with which they break 
off" corals, on which they feed. iVlso an example of the interesting 
viviparous fishes of California [Ditrema) is exhibited, showing the 
perfectly formed young ones in the interior of the old fish. The fresh 
water species of this division are found only in Africa and South 
America, the most celebrated being the Bolti of the Nile (Chromis). 
Wall Cases 14-15 contain the Cod and Flat-fish Tribes. 
Wall Cases 16-22 contain the Soft-rayed Fishes, that is, those which 
have no, or only one, strong spine in the fin of the back, or which lack 
the back fin altogether. The majority live in fresh water, but some 
tribes are sea-fishes. Cases 16-17: the Cat-fish Tribe, generally 
armed with strong spikes in the fins on the breast and back, provided 
with long barbels at the mouth, and without scales, but sometimes 
with large bony bucklers. Of the numerous various kinds of this 
tribe, the following are the most remarkable : the European Cat-fish 
(Silurus fflanis), the largest fresh- water fish of Europe ; the Bayad 
{Baqrus bayad), one of the largest fishes of the Nile; the Electric 
Cat-fish, which defends itself by electric shocks, and is found in the 
rivers of Tropical Africa. Case 18 : the Salmonoids and Characines, 
the latter most valuable fresh-water fishea from South America and 
Africa. Cases J 9-2 1 contain the Pikes and some tribes allied 
to them, as the Gar-Pike (Belone), and Flying-fishes {Exocoelus) ; 
the Carp and Herring Tribes, exemplified by the common Carp, a 
fish indigenous in Asia, and introduced into Europe ; the Catla, the 
most esteemed fish in Bengal ; the numerous group of Barbels, one 
of which is the large-scaled jMahaseer of India; the Roach, Rudd, 
Chub, Tench, Bream, etc. One of the largest kinds of Herrings 
