VIVIPAROUS FISHES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
401 
CYMATOGASTER AGGREGATUS GIBBONS; A CONTRIBUTION TO THE 
ONTOGENY OF VIVIPAROUS FISHES. 
[By Carl H. Eigeumann.] 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
When, in the winter of 1888, 1 arrived on the coast of southern California, I imme- 
diately set about to procure the earliest stages possible of the different species of 
Embiotocidai that were to be found about San Diego. Prof. Ryder (1885a, p. 140) had 
estimated that the much desired early stages of this family were to be obtained during 
October and November and I had some misgivings about obtaining them. On the first 
day (about December 14, 1888), however, I obtained the eggs of Embiotica jacksoni and 
the early larva of another species, and after I had interested the Italian, Greek, and 
Portuguese fishermen there was nc lack of specimens. 
Little more was done during this season than to determine the size of the eggs 
and the places where different species of viviparous fishes are to be obtained, and 
when they are with eggs. Among other things I discovered the remarkable egg of 
Cymatogaster aggregatus, which I have chosen as the subject of this paper. 
The following summer was devoted to a study of the pelagic eggs of fishes of 
San Diego Bay, to serve as a basis of comparison between the oviparous and related 
viviparous species. 
The winters of 1889 and 1890 were occupied almost exclusively in procuring the 
eggs of Cymatogaster , of which I intended to make a special study. 
VIVIPAROUS FISH OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
The prominent feature of the ichthyological fauna of the west coast of America 
is the presence of large numbers of viviparous forms. There is probably no other 
region in th e world naturally so favorable to a study of viviparous fishes, and there 
is furthermore no month in the year during which the developing eggs of viviparous 
teleosts can not be procured at San Diego. Over 30 per cent of the teleosts found at 
San Diego are viviparous and the extremes of viviparity are found among them. All 
the species known to be viviparous belong to two families — the Embiotocidce and the 
Scorpcenida:. 
The Embiotocidai are found principally along the western coast of America. One 
species occurs in the Sacramento Valley, and three species inhabit Japan. The species 
found on the American coast inhabit quiet bays, beaches on which the surf breaks, 
and rocky pools. The range of distribution varies greatly with the different species. 
Some are found along the entire coast from San Diego to Puget Sound, while others 
seem to be restricted to a few miles. None of them descend to great depths and none 
inhabit the open ocean; they are shore fish. 
F, C. B. 1892 26 
