NOTES ON FIVE FOOD-FISHES OF LAKE BUHI. 
dichotomousl y branching libers, which cover all facets of the shell except the one opposite the depression. 
The libers adhere closely to the surface of the shell and may be continuous with it. Around the 
margin of the bare surface the fibers may extend beyond the egg, lying in an intricately coiled condition 
in the spaces between the eggs. The fibers are probably to be looked on as ridges of the eggshell 
which become free with continued growth. 
“The ripe eggs are packed together closely in the ovary, adhering by their flattened surfaces. 
Between and beneath them numerous small ovarian ova, with relatively large nucleus and nucleolus, 
are present. Such small ova have not yet developed a shell. I believe the ripe eggs are arranged in a 
single layer around the axial cavity of the ovary, with the convex depression-bearing surfaces facing 
the cavity. The fibers or filaments suggest, of course, that the egg is attached to something during its 
development. 
“In the discharged eggs examined the filaments project from one side in the form of a tuft. No 
signs of segmentation could be made out in surface view of eggs in clove-oil, and yet the shape of the 
blastoderm was so embryo-like that I thought it necessary to section a mass of the eggs taken directly 
from the fish. The sections permit the blastoderm to be seen distinctly as well as the yolk. The 
blastoderm is much thicker on one surface of the yolk than on the opposite surface, but is quite 
unsegmented. I have examined a large number and find no trace of segmentation. 
“The highly developed egg-membrane, with its filaments, is certainly a very unusual feature. I 
know of no similar case, but I have not at hand literature which would enable me to say whether or 
not such a membrane has been described. The disk-like area from which the filaments radiate is 
exceedingly thin in the center, but is not perforated. I can not make out a micropyle. The appear- 
ance of several eggs indicates that when the egg is laid an outer membrane, with the filaments; is split 
and recurved, leaving the egg surrounded by a thin membrane, at some point of which the micropyle 
should be. 
“There is certainly nothing in the appearance of the eggs (egg-membrane, yolk, blastoderm) to 
suggest that they develop in the mother. The complicated egg-membrane, on the contrary, strongly 
suggests that the egg develops outside the mother, attached by filaments to some body. All this is, of 
course, negative evidence.” 
An interesting fact regarding this species is that it is a food-fish of considerable importance. In 
forwarding samples of the fish as dried for food, Dr. Zeller wrote as follows: 
1 1 1 inclose herewith samples of a strange article of diet greatly relished by the Bicols, among 
whom I have been stationed for the past eighteen months. Rice and fish are the staple articles of 
diet for most Filipinos, and in the provinces of the Camarines there i§ little variation from these two. 
Fishes of every size and many varieties are prepared in every conceivable form, but the samples 
inclosed are unique in that they are found here and nowhere else. * * * Many varieties of fish 
abound in the lake, but by far the most numerous are these minute specimens. They are called in the 
native Bicol tongue ‘sinarapan,’ and when dried in the sun on a leaf are called ‘badi.’ They are caught 
by a large sheet of close web, which is dipped under wherever a school congregates. They are put 
into tightly woven baskets from which the water soon drains, leaving a compact mass of fish. They 
are not minnows or immature fish. They are adults and attain no greater size. The natives buy them 
eagerly; and when the little fleet of fishermen return from their morning’s quest and place their bas- 
kets upon the ground on the market place, thej^ are instantly surrounded by a crowd of waiting children 
who, armed with every sort of dish, are anxious to take home the family meal. They bring three or 
four potato tubers, a handful or two of rice, or a few copper pennies, and in exchange receive about a 
pint of fish. In the kitchen the fish are made up with peppers or other spiced herbs, and they do not 
taste bad. The soldiers have become quite fond of this food, and liberally patronize the little native 
restaurants where it is served.” 
Gobius sternbergi, new species. 
Form elongate, rather robust, slightly compressed, the depth contained 4 times in length. Head 
rather large, its length about one-third total length of body; mouth rather small, terminal, nearly 
horizontal, the maxillary not extending to vertical from anterior edge of pupil; snout short and very 
blunt, about three-fourths diameter of eye; eye large, superior, bulging, less than 4 in head; interorbital 
one-half eye. Teeth in upper jaw in about 3 irregular rows, of which the outer row contains the largest 
teeth; teeth in lower jaw in a band, some larger than others and canine-like. Branchial membranes 
broadly united to the isthmus. D. v, 8; A. 8; caudal pointed; ventrals long, extending nearly or 
