PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Jan., 



NOTES ON SYNENTOGNATHOUS FISHES 

 BY HENRY W. FOWLER. 



The fishes embraced in this order are commonly known as bill- 

 fishes or green-gars, sam-ies, half-beaks and flying-fishes. With 

 one exception, as noted below, all are contained in the collection 

 of the Academy. 



BELONIDiE. 



At least two distinct sub-genera occur in the limits of Belone. 

 Cuvier. Raphistoma Rafinesque, as pointed out by Regan, may 

 be accepted as a nomen nudum. 



Sub-genus BELONE Cuvier. 



Body compressed behind vent, without lateral keels. Gill- 

 opening extends well forward. Gill-rakers moderate, lanceolate. 



Belone belone (Linnseus). 



Eight from the Mediterranean. 



PLATYBELONE new sub-genus. 

 Type Belone platyura Bennett. 



Body broadly depressed behind, with strong lateral keels. Gill- 

 opening rather restricted. Gill-rakers short points. (xT^axuc;, broad, 

 with reference to the caudal peduncle; Belone.) 



Belone platyura B nnett. 



Two Hawaiian examples from J. K. Townsend. These examples 

 are of interest historically, as among the first of the species ob- 

 tained in the Hawaiian Islands, several years before Valenciennes 

 described it as Belone carinata. 



B. trachura Valenciennes also belongs in the present sub-genus. 



STRONGYLURA Van Hasselt. 



Bull. Sci. Nat. Ferussac (2 sect.) ii, 1824, p. 374. Type Strongylura caudimaculata 

 Van Hasselt. 



Strongylura Van Hasselt thus antedates Tylosurus Cocco/ and 

 though without diagnosis is clearly based on the easily recognized 



iGiorn. Sci. Lett. Sicilia, XLIl, 1833, No. 124, 18. 



