330 rOLYNEMlDy^. 



I, m. Hali'-gTovvn. Calcutta. From the Collection of Messrs. von 



Schlagintweit. 

 n. Adult. Cej-lon. From Mr. Ciiming's Collection. 

 o~q. Half-grown. India. Presented by G. R. Waterhouse, Esq. 



Air-bladder none ; pyloric appendages in immense number. 



20. Polynemus quadrifilis. 

 Cur. S,- Vid. iii. p. 390, vii. p. 518. pi. 68. 



D. 8 i ^. A. ^. Ci^c. pylor. 17. 



I 13 12 ^ ^ 



Four pectoral appendages of moderate length. The vomerine 

 teeth form a small and roundish group. 

 Western coast of Africa. 



Air-bladder very large. 



21. Polynemus tridactylus. 



Meeker, Perc. p. 57 (not Mitch.). 



D. 8 I 13. A. ^. L. hit. 70. 



Three pectoral appendages of moderate length. 

 Sea of Batavia. 



2. PENTANEMUS. 



Pentanemus, Artedi in Sehce Tliesaur. iii. p. 74. 



Vertical fins partly naked. Two separate dorsals, the first with 

 eight spines ; all the spines feeble : the anal miich longer than the 

 soft dorsal. In both jaws, on the palatine and ptei'ygoid bones, 

 bands of viUiform teeth ; none on the vomer. Scales moderate, 

 ciliated. Prseoperculum entire. Pyloric appendages in moderate 

 number. Air-bladder present. 



West coast of Africa ; Caribbean Sea. 



Strange as it may appear, this genus and species may be consi- 

 dered as a new discovery, although they represent the fu-st Pohj- 

 nemidce known. Ai'tedi, Seba, Gronow, and Linne were acquainted 

 with the fish : the first founded the genus Pentanemus (afterwards 

 altered into Polynemus) on it, the second gave a very good figure, the 

 third an excellent description, and Linne introduced it into the 

 system with the other species then known ; but all this was consi- 

 dered of little value by Cuvier, who doubted their accuracy, and 

 thought the fish to be merely a deformed representation of Pohjnemus 

 paradiseus. Bennett first again recognized the original fish of Artedi, 

 whilst Pel, superficially, only consulted the Uterature and described 

 the species as new. The centre of its habitat must be considered to be 

 the African part of the Atlantic, althougli it appears to range as far 

 as the West Indies, lilce many other fishes. All the naturalists 

 above mentioned correctly state the Atlantic as its native sea. 



