MALACOPTERYGII 547 



This family is abundantly represented in Cretaceous times by 

 the genera Osmeroides and Elopopsis, and from the Lower Eocene 

 to the present day by Elops and Megalops. Elops saurus is a 

 handsome elongate silvery Fish, found in all the warm and tropical 

 seas; the young are ribbon-shaped like those of Albula. A 

 second species, K lacerta, is from the West Coast of Africa, enter- 

 ing rivers. Megalops, distinguished by larger scales, the absence 

 of pseudobranchiae, and the curious prolongation of the last ray 

 of the dorsal fin, includes the well-known Tarpon M. atlanticus, 

 and the Indian M. cyprinoides. The Tarpon occurs from the 



FIG. 326. Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, much reduced. (After Goode.) 



south-eastern coasts of North America and the West Indies to 

 Brazil, and reaches a length of 6 feet and a weight of 1 1 Ibs. 

 It often leaps out of the water, after the manner of Grey Mullets, 

 and its chase when hooked affords good sport, the landing of so 

 active a giant being attended with great difficulties. Its remark- 

 ably large scales, over two inches in diameter, are much prized 

 for fancy work in the Florida curiosity shops. 



Fam. 6. Albulidae. Margin of the upper jaw formed by the 

 praemaxillaries and the maxillaries, the latter movably articulated 

 above the former to the ethmoid. Parietal bones separating the 

 supraoccipital from the frontals ; suboperculum large ; inter- 

 operculum small and entirely or nearly entirely hidden below the 

 praeoperculum. Basis cranii double. Praemaxillaries, mandible, 

 vomer, palatines, pterygoid, parasphenoid, glossohyal, and pharyn- 

 geals toothed. Eibs sessile, inserted behind and somewhat below 

 small parapophyses, which are absent or merely indicated on the 

 anterior vertebrae, and gradually increase in size towards the 

 caudal region ; these parapophyses, as well as the neural and 

 haemal arches, are autogenous bones ; epineurals, no epipleurals. 



