526 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxvi. 



family, Exocoetidm or Scomhresocidse. The remarkable differeucos in 

 the pharyngeals seem to us to permit the division of the group inta 

 four families. 



{ffvv^ together; fV, witlHin; yvnOog, jaw.) 



a. Third superior pharyngeal on each side sc-arcely enlarged, not longer than its 

 anterior process, and armed with comparatively few (about 15) pointe<l teeth; 

 fourth superior pharyngeal distinct on each side; lower pharyngeals united into 

 a small linear plate, armed with small teeth; vertebrae with zygapophyses; l)oth 

 jaws produced in a long beak in the adult (the upper short in the young); 

 teeth in jaws strong, unequal; maxillaries firmly appressed to the premaxilla- 

 .ries; a distinct suture along the boundary; "coronoid" bone (attached to the 



articular) evident. Species carnivorous .' Belonid.e, 1. 



aa. Third superior pharyngeal greatly enlarged, covered with bluntish, tricuspid 

 teeth; fourth superior pharyngeal wanting or fused with the third; lower 

 pharyngeals large, fused into a thick triangular bone with transversely con- 

 cave surface, covered with blunt, tricuspid teeth; teeth in jaws always small, 

 conic, or tricuspid; maxillary close to premaxillary, l)ut not suturally joined 

 to it, there being some open space between; coronoid bone small, but jtresent; 

 no canine teeth; no zygapophyses to the vertebrte. 

 h. Third superior pharyngeal solidly joined with its fellow to form an ovoid jtlate, 

 which sends two processes forward; cleft of mouth narrow; the lower jaw 

 usually produced; teeth of jaws tricuspid; herbivorous species. 



Hemiramphiixe, 2. 



66. Third superior pharyngeals more or less closely appressed, but not united; 



species at least partly carnivorous. 



<: Dorsal and anal fins each with several detached finlets; cleft of mouth long, 



both jaws being more or less produced in a pointed beak; paired fins small. 



SCOMBEESOCID/E, 3. 



cc. Dorsal and anal without finlets; cleft of mouth short, the jaws not produced 

 in a beak; pectoral fins more or less produced, forming an organ of flight. 



EXOCCETID.E, 4. 



Family 1. BELONID^E. 



NEEDLE-FISHES. 



Body elongate, very slender, compressed or not, covered with small, 

 thin scales. Lateral line very low, running as a fold along side of 

 belly. Both jaws produced in a beak, the lower jaw the longer, very 

 much the longer in the young, which I'esemble Hemiramphni^ ; max- 

 illaries grown fast to premaxillaries; each jaw with a band of small, 

 sharp teeth, besides a series of longer, wide-set, sharp, conical teeth. 

 No finlets. Dorsal fin opposite anal, both tins rather long. Air blad- 

 der present. Lower pharyngeals united to form a long, slender, nar- 

 row plate, with flat surface, covered with small, pointed teeth: upper 

 pharyngeals distinct, the third pair little enlarged, each with some 15 

 moderate, unequal, pointed teeth {TijloKurv^ viart/mfi); fourth pair 

 well developed, with similar teeth, but without anterior processes. 

 Vertebrte numerous, with zygopophyses. Ovary single. Voracious, 

 carnivorous iishes, bearing a superlicial resemblance to the gar pikes; 



