PRINCIPAL FAMILIES OF FISH. 33 



The Herring, the try of which is the Whitebait, the 

 Pilchard or Sardine, the Shad, Anchovy, and Sprat, 

 in Europe, and the Hilsa or Indian Shad, in India, 

 are examples. The last named ascends the large 

 rivers hundreds of miles for breeding purposes. 



Notoptcridce. 



Are queer shaped fishes, found in the fresh waters 

 of the East Indies and West Africa. There are only 

 five species known of this family, of which two are 

 Indian. 



Gymnotidiu. 



Eel-like fishes found in fresh waters in Tropical 

 America. The electric eel belongs to this family. 



Symbranchidce. 



Eel-like fish of the Tropics, the genera Amphipnous 

 and Symbranchus occur in India, 



Muramidce. Eels. 



Are found everywhere in fresh and salt water ; 

 they are not, numerous, however, in India. 



Gymnodontcs. 



This family have the jaws formed like a beak, in 

 two, three, or four bony pieces. Some species of 

 Tetradon are found in India, and arc queer looking 

 little fish. They have a trick when handled of in- 

 flating themselves with air, till they form a complete 

 ball. 



Acipenseridce. The Sturgeons. 



These fish have five rows of bony plates running 



D 



