632 TELEOSTEI CHAP. 



less degree than in Aulostoma. Its only representative is 

 Protosyngnathus sumatrensis, from a Tertiary freshwater formation 

 in Sumatra, which has been referred, without adequate grounds, 

 to Aulorhynchus or Auliscops} 



Fam. 5. Aulostomatidae. Allied to the Aulorhynchidae, 

 differing in the ventral fins devoid of spines, formed of 5 or 6 

 rays, widely removed from the pectoral arch, the very elongate, 

 saddle-shaped anterior vertebra formed by the fusion of several, 

 the large supratemporals produced backward over the anterior 

 vertebra, the very elongate pterygials of the pectoral fin, and 

 the compressed body covered with small ctenoid scales. Ribs 

 are rudimentary or absent. No suborbitals. The snout is long, 

 tubiform ; the small terminal mouth bears bands of minute 

 teeth, and the lower jaw has a small barbel at the symphysis. 

 A single genus, Aulostoma, with two species from the Atlantic 

 coasts of tropical America, and two from the Eocene and Miocene 

 of Europe. A. coloratum grows to a length of 26 inches. 



Fam. 6. Fistulariidae. Body greatly elongate, naked. First 

 vertebra much elongate, formed by the fusion of several ; strong 

 transverse processes to the ribs in front and behind, those of two 

 vertebrae suturally united ; ribs rudimentary or absent. Supra- 

 temporal much produced posteriorly, extending over the anterior 

 vertebrae ; suborbitals absent ; snout forming a long tube, which 

 terminates in a narrow mouth with minute teeth. Spinous 

 dorsal entirely absent. Pterygials of pectoral fin very elongate. 

 Ventral fins very small, with 6 soft rays, inserted far behind the 

 pectoral girdle. 



The Flute-mouths, Fistularia, which Dr. Giinther describes as 

 " gigantic marine Sticklebacks living near the shore, from which 

 they are frequently driven into the open sea," are represented by 

 three species, from the tropical and subtropical parts of the Atlantic 

 and Indo-Pacific. The middle rays of the forked caudal fin are 

 produced into a long filament. The largest species, F. tabaccaria, 

 reaches a length of 6 feet. The same genus is represented by 

 two species in the Upper Eocene and Oligocene of Europe, and 

 Urosphen, from the Upper Eocene, is regarded as allied to it. 



1 Protaulopsis, from Monte Bolca, appears to me to belong to the Scombresocidae. 

 The anterior vertebrae are equal in size ; long, slender ribs are present, the body 

 is scaly, and the so-called infraclavicles are absent. The rostrum is so much 

 crushed that no opinion can be formed as to its structure. 



