CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 689 



commonly scaly ; adipose fin often present ; dorsal of soft rays only ; 

 skeleton weakly ossified ; air-bladder small or wanting ; intestine 

 short ; an oviduct present. 



SYNODUS, B. & S. 



(Saurus, Cuv.) 



S. fcetens, L. Lizard-fish. Soury. Sand Pike. 



Teeth on palate in a single row on each side ; olivaceous ; 

 yellowish below ; back mottled ; head brownish, vermiculated ; 

 inside of mouth yellowish ; scales, seven rows on cheek, five on 

 opercle ; pectoral fin short, ventrals long ; scales cycloid ; body 

 nearly terete ; head depressed, with triangular pointed snout ; 

 premaxillary with knife-like teeth, the inner and large ones 

 depressible ; also depressible teeth on tongue. Branch iostegals, 

 12; anal and dorsal rays, 11; length, 12 inches. Common 

 southward. Not valued as food. 



"Rare. Baird found a specimen in Toms River in 1854." 



Family SALMONIDJE. 



Salmonoids. 



Body elongate, covered with cycloid scales ; head naked ; maxillary 

 with supplemental bone, forms part of upper jaw margin ; adipose fin 

 present, caudal forked ; pectorals placed low ; lateral line present ; 

 abdomen rounded ; air-bladder large ; no oviduct. 



OSMERUS, L. 



(Salmo. At her in a.) 

 O. mordax, Mitch, (viridescens, Le S.) American Smelt. 



Transparent greenish above, silvery on sides ; some dark points 

 on body and fins ; body rather slender ; head large, long pointed, 

 with large mouth, having strong, fang-like teeth on tongue and 

 vomer ; small teeth on maxillary ; other teeth on palatines, &c. ; 

 mandible projecting; scales deciduous; dorsal fin begins over 

 ventrals. Branchibstegals, 8; dorsal rays, 10; anal rays, 15; 



