The Scyphophori, Haplomi, and Xenomi 189 



The best-known genus of Scyphophori is Mormyrus. Species 

 of this genus found in the Nile were worshiped as sacred by 

 the ancient Egyptians and pictures of Mormyrus are often 

 seen among the emblematic inscriptions. The Egyptians did not 

 eat the Mormyrus because with two other fishes it was accused 

 of having devoured a limb from the body of Osiris, so that Isis 

 was unable to recover it when she gathered the scattered re- 

 mains of her husband. 



In Mormyrus the bones of the- head are covered by skin, 

 the snout is more or less elongated, and the tail is generally 

 short and insignificant. One of the most characteristically 

 eccentric species is Gnathonemus curvirostris, lately discovered 

 by Dr. Boulenger from the Congo. Fossil Mormyrida are un- 

 known. 



The Haplomi. In the groups called Iniomi and Lyopomi, 

 the mesocoracoid arch is imperfect or wanting, a condition 



FIG. 149. Gnathonermis curvirostris Boulenger. Family Momnyridce. Congo 

 River. (After Boulenger.) 



which in some cases may be due to the degeneration produced by 

 deep-sea life. In the eels a similar condition obtains. In the group 

 called Haplomi (axhoos, simple; oS^o?, shoulder), as in all the 

 groups of fishes yet to be discussed, this arch is wholly wanting at 

 all stages of development. In common with the Isospondyli and 

 with soft-rayed fishes in general the air-bladder has a persistent 

 air-duct, all the fins are without true spines, the ventral fins 

 are abdominal, and the scales are cycloid. The group is a 

 transitional one, lying almost equidistant between the Isospondyli 

 and the Acanthopterygii. Gill unites it with the latter and 

 Woodward with the former. We may regard it for the present 



