INTRODUCTION. 



Ixiii 



bbb. Ventral fins wholly wanting, pectorals us- 

 ually present. 



v. Snout not tubular with the small mouth at its 

 end; body not covered with bony plates, 

 eel-shaped. 



w. Gill openings lateral and vertical; snout 

 conic, the jaws not very heavy ; gape longi- 

 tudinal; lips thick; lower jaw projecting; 

 teeth in cardiform bands on jaws and 



vomer 



ww. Gill openings horizontal, inferior, very 

 close together, apparently confluent; pos- 

 terior nostrils in front of eye Symbranchidce 89 



vv. Snout tubular, bearing the small mouth at 

 its end; body angular, covered with bony 

 plates, not truly eel-shaped Syngnathidce id 2 



.Anguillidce 90 



