192 ORDER ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



Mastacembelus, Gronov., 



The two jaws are nearly equal, and the caudal and 

 anal nearly united at the caudal K 



Both kinds are found in the Asiatic rivers and lakes, 

 and feed upon worms that they find in the sand. 

 Their flesh is esteemed. 



- Perhaps it is here that ought to be placed a genus 

 of which, as yet, but imperfect notions are enter- 

 tained, that of the 



Not acanthus, Bl. (Campilodon, Oth. Fabric.) 



Their body is very long, compressed, covered with 

 soft small scales, their snout obtuse, projects beyond 

 the mouth, which is furnished with fine and close 

 teeth ; there are only detached prickles on the back ; 

 the ventrals are behind under the abdomen ; a very 

 long anal reaches to the end of the tail, where it unites 

 with a very small caudal. 



One species only is known (Notacanthus nasus, Bl. 

 431) of the Frozen Ocean, two feet and a half long. 



Seriola, Cuv., 



Present the same characters as the lichias : an inclined 

 prickle before the first dorsal, a little detached fin, 

 supported by two prickles before the anal ; compressed 

 body, lateral line without keel or armour, but the 



1 Rhynchobddla halepensis, Bl., Schn. ; Gronov. Zooph. pi. 

 viii. and x. 



