SCOJIIiRESOCIBiE. 233 



Fam. 14. SCOMBRESOCIDiE. 



Scomberesoces s. Pharyngogiiathi malacopterygii, Midler, Ahluuidl. 

 Akad. Wiss. Bed. 1842, p. 170. 



Body covered with scales ; a series of keeled scales 

 along each side of the belly. Margin of the upper 

 jaw formed by the intermaxillaries mesially, and by 

 the maxillaries laterally. Lower pharyngeals united 

 into a single bone. Dorsal fin opposite the anal, 

 belonging to the caudal portion of the vertebral co- 

 lumn. Adipose fin none. Air-bladder generally pre- 

 sent, simple, sometimes cellular, without pneumatic 

 duct. Pseudobranchise hidden, glandular. Stomach 

 not distinct from the intestine, which is quite straight, 

 without appendages. 



Marine fishes of the temperate and tropical zones, many species 

 entering or inhabiting fresh waters. 



At the commencement of my account of the Physostomi it was my 

 intention to keep the Scomhi-esoces as a distinct order, viz. Mala- 

 copterygii pharyngocimithi ; however, during the progress of a de- 

 tailed examination of these fishes so many points of affinity with the 

 Cyprbiodontes became apparent, that I was reluctantly obliged to 

 deviate still more from Miiller's ordinal division. The coincidence 

 of the two characters of united lower pharjmgeals and of the absence 

 of a pneumatic duct of the aii'-bladder deserves certainly full atten- 

 tion ; but the backward position of the vertical fins, the modification 

 of the anal fin of the male sex of many Cyprinodonts and of some 

 Hcmirhamphs, and the structure of the upper jaw of some Cyprino- 

 donts, which is very similar to that of Hemirhamphus, are points 

 which, at all events, prevent the Scombresoces from being widely 

 separated from tlic other family named. 



Therefore this famUy is to be excepted fi-om the last of the cha- 

 racters of the Physostomes, as given vol. v. p. 1. 



Synopjsis of the genera. 



Both jaws elongate into a long beak : finlets none....l. Beloxe, p. 2.34. 



Both jaws elongate into a long beak ; finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins. 



2. ScosiiiREsox, p. 256. 



The lower jaw only elongate into a beak; intermaxillaries short, forming a tri- 

 angular plate 3. Hemirhamphus, p. 259. 



Mouth as in Hemirhamphus, but the lower jaw not prolonged. Pectoral fin of 

 moderate length 4. Arrhamphus, p. 270. 



Jaws short ; interniaxilhiries and maxillaries not soldered together. Pectoral 

 fins very long, organs of flying 6. Exoccetus, p. -77. 



