DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 151 



Family NEMICHTHYID^E. 



Nemichthyina, Gi N l in i:. Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vm, 1870, 21. 



Nemichthyida, (in i , Arrangement, Families of Fishes, 1872, 20 (No. 203), nai hly.— Jordan and Gilbert, 



Bull, xvi, r. s. v,i. Mm-... 365.— Jordan and Davis, Rep. U. S. F. C, L888 I 1891 , 652. 



Body very slender, somewhal compressed, tapering into a long and very slender tail, 

 and a very long and slender neck. No scales. Lateral line consisting of pores in three 

 series, the upper and lower alternating in position with the median row, or of a single series 

 of widely set pores. Head resembling that of Belone, the head proper small, short, and 

 rather broad, with Hat top and vertical sides. Nostrils large, close together in front of the 

 eye, without tnbeor flap, .laws prolonged, beak like. Teeth in both jaws small, very mini 

 erons. close set, retrorse. (iill openings rather large, running downward and forward, sep- 

 arated by a narrow isthmus. Pectorals well developed. Anal tin beginning near the vent, 

 higher than the dorsal, becoming obsolete on the caudal filament. Dorsal beginning close 

 behind occiput, or not tar from end of pectorals. The soft rays of the fins are connected by 

 thin membrane, instead of being imbedded in thick skin, as in the eels. .Stomach not dis- 

 tensible. Muscular and osseous systems well developed. Abdominal cavity extends far 

 behind the vent. 



ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE GENERA OF NEMICHTHYID.E. 



I. Pectorals present. Hill openings separate and distinct. Jaws exceedingly attenuate; the upper the 



longer, and bent upward NemiehthyintB 



A. (oil-slits lateral, vertical. Vent close to the head. Dorsal rays slender and nearly free. 



1. Lateral lino with three rows of pores. The tail ending iu a long filament. Color dusky, with 



silvery reflections above Nemiciitiiys 



2. Lateral line with Bingle row of pores. Tail probably filamentous (but truncate, and perhaps 



mutilated, in all existing specimens). Color black Labkiithys 



B. Gill slits separate, inferior. Vent remote from head and far behind pectorals. 



1. Dorsal origin belli ml pectorals and above vent. Jaws mode rate Cyema 



II. Pectorals present. Gill openings partly confluent. Vomerine teeth large Spinivomerince 



A. Jaws very long, attenuate. Vomerine teeth conical Spinivomer 



B. Jaws moderate (snout not longer than rest of head). Vomerine teeth lancet-shaped, close-set 



Serrivoher 



III. Pectorals absent, s : i 1 1 openings separate, but reaching nearly to middle line of abdomen. Snout spat- 



ulate. Tail long and filiform Gavialidpitina 



A. Vent somewhal remote from throat. 



1. Teeth small, sharp, in double row in each jaw; teeth in vomer larger Caviai.iceps 



NEMICHTHYS, Richardson. 



Vemichthy8, Richardson, Voyage of the Samarang, Fishes, 1848, in .type. .V. scolopaceun).— Gcntiier, Cat. 



Fish, lirit. Mus., vm, p. 21.— Jordan and Davis, Rep. U. S. F. C, 1888 (1891) 656. 

 Leptorhynchus, Lowe, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., x, 1852, 54. 

 Belonopsis, Brandt, Mem. Ac. St. lvtersb. Sav. Ktraug., vn, 1854, 174. 



Body very elongate, with slender, whip like tail, which tapers to a point. Vent under 

 pectorals, .laws greatly elongate, forming a long, slender bill, the upper formed by the 



x^^^^^^ 



Lateral Line in v michthys. 



vomer and intermaxillaries. Inner surface of the jaws covered with small, closely set teeth. 

 Eye large; nostrils close together in the hollow in front of the eye, without tube or flap. 

 < 1 il 1 openings wide, running downward and forward, nearly confluent. Pectoral and ven 

 fcral tins well developed. Lateral line with three series of pores. 



