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430 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [part iv.<br />

Family 18.—XTPHIID^. (2 Genera, 8 Species.)<br />

" Marine fishes, with elongate compressed body and a produced<br />

sword-shaped upper jaw."<br />

Distribution.—Mediterranean, and open seas between or near<br />

the Tropics.<br />

Xiphias (the Sword-fish) has occurred on the English coast.<br />

Family 19.—GOBIID^. (24 Genera, 294 Species.)<br />

*' Carnivorous fishes, with elongate low, naked, or scaly bodies,<br />

living at the bottom of the shallow seas or fresh waters of tem-<br />

perate or tropical regions. Individuals of the same species often<br />

differ in inhabiting exclusively fresh or salt water.<br />

Distribution.—All temperate and tropical regions, from<br />

Scotland and Japan to New Zealand. Species of Gobius, Latrun-<br />

culus, and Callionymus occur in Britain. Several genera are<br />

confined to the East Indian seas and rivers, but none seem<br />

peculiar to America. The genus Periopthalmus consists of the<br />

curious, large-headed, projectiug-eyed fishes, so abundant on the<br />

muddy shores of African and Eastern tidal rivers, and which seem<br />

to spend most of their time out of water, hunting after insects, &c.<br />

Family 20.—DISCOBOLI. (2 Genera, 11 Species.)<br />

" Carnivorous fishes, with oblong naked or tubercular bodies,<br />

living at the bottom of shallow seas, and attaching themselves<br />

to rocks by means of a ventral disc.<br />

Distribution.— All northern seas, as far south as Belgium,<br />

England, and San Francisco.<br />

Species of both genera {Cydopterus and Liparis) occur in<br />

British seas.

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