FISHES—EMBIOTOCOIDAE. 
167 
United States and Mexican Boundary Commission, assisted by Captain Ottinger, of the United 
States revenue cutter, at that period in the hay of San Diego, California. The following 
abstract is taken from the MSS. of Dr. Webb’s journal: 
“ On the 3d of May, during a boisterous and cold weather, Captain Ottinger caused his 
seine to he drawn across the harbor. Caught many tiger and shovel-nose sharks, two flounders, 
two specimens of a fish somewhat like our sculpin ; also, a number of small fish , about three or 
four inches long, each of which contained ten or twelve living young” 
“Upon gently pressing one of these fishes between the palms of the hands the young would 
glide, or as it were leap forth, to a considerable distance, and if received in a vessel of water would 
swim and dart about in full enjoyment of their piscine revels. Some of these viviparous 
progeny I exhibited to the commissioner and several gentlemen then tarrying at San Diego, 
and I kept quite a number of them alive in my room many days. In the mother they were not, 
so to speak, indiscriminately huddled together, hut methodically arranged, and placed in such 
juxtaposition as to form a compact series without the loss of any interstial space; in other 
words, so disposed, not in right lines, hut in a curvilinear position, and with the head of one 
to the tail of the adjoining one (and so on in alternate succession) as best to accommodate the 
whole family. Indeed the same beautiful systematic order, the same adaptness of means to 
ends were observed here that so eminently characterize all of nature’s works.” 
“ Upon leaving San Diego I took extra pains to preserve specimens of this fish, but these 
special efforts proved in the main unavailing. I wrapped them separately in cloth, sewed the 
wrappers, and immersed the whole in whiskey. Our route home was a long and circuitous one, 
and, much to my disappointment, on examining the contents of the bottles after my arrival in 
this city (Boston), I found they were mostly destroyed, with the exception of some of the 
young.” 
We have deemed it interesting to relate the above observations, as they may serve to corrobo¬ 
rate those made subsequently by Mr. A. C. Jackson. The species observed by Dr. Webb we refer to 
Holconoius rhodoterus, the young of which we had an opportunity ourselves to examine in a pregnant 
specimen from Presidio, California. The young were found in the very position as described 
by Dr. Webb. 
Much prior to 1842 specimens of this family of fishes were collected by the naturalists of the 
United States Exploring Expedition, but at a period, it seems, when the young were not to be 
observed, and, since the species themselves have not yet been investigated, the discovery of tbe 
curious fact of their viviparity has thus been postponed for two entire lustrums. 
It would have given us a great deal of pleasure and personal satisfaction had we been able to 
identify all the species which have been described by Prof. Agassiz and Dr. W. P. Gibbons. 
The brevity of their descriptions, without authentic specimens at our command, has made our 
task one of ungratefulness and of difficulties. Placed between two evils we have chosen that 
which we considered least prejudicial to the progress of icthyology. The species previously 
identified we now present with a great deal of caution until safely compared with their proto¬ 
typical specimens. It must, nevertheless, be gratifying to icthyologists to find, accompanying 
our descriptions, figures sufficiently accurate to remove any possible doubt as regards the species 
which we have in view. A safe opportunity is henceforth afforded to clear up their synonomy, 
