SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 56 



Scales near lateral line about 3 mm. long, 1.66 broad, white, translucent, the 

 circuli not so fine; nuclear area more central (River Nile at 

 Assuan) Mormyrus kannume 



Scales oblong, longer than broad 3 



Scales about as broad as long, obtusely subtriangular, about 2.5 mm. 

 diameter, white; sculpture as shown in figure (Lahun, Fayoum)... 



Petrocephahis bane 



Scales broader than long, very small, breadth i. 25-1. 33 mm. ; reticulation 

 variable, but reduced (near Luxor) Marcusenius isidori 



Scales larger, about 2 mm. long or a little over ; about 12 basal radii ; apical 

 reticulation well developed (Fashoda) Gnathonemus cyprinoides 



Scales smaller, about 1.33 mm. long; about 7 basal radii (near Luxor) . . 



Hyperopisus bebe 



Fig. I. — Petrocephahis Fig. 2. — Scale of Mormy- 

 bane (Lacep). Lahiin, riis kannume. Forsk. 

 Favoum. 



Fig. 3. — Amia calva. 

 Plymouth, Indiana. Part 

 of base of scale, showing 

 longitudinal fibers which 

 apparently correspond to 

 the circuli of other fishes. 



Thus it is seen that, although there are good specific characters, 

 the scales are in general of the same type, and are, so far as I know, 

 very distinct from those of any other fishes. Gymnarchus, accord- 

 ing to the scales, goes with the Mormyridse. 



In view of the suggested relationship with the Albulidae, I was 

 anxious to see scales of that family. Doctor Evermann has very 

 kindly sent me scales of Albtila viilpes, lErom Woods Hole, Mass. 

 The scales come from just above the lateral line, under front of 

 dorsal. It may be said at once that they show no resemblance to the 

 Mormyrid scales whatever. They are large (about 15 mm. long 

 and 13-14 broad), quadrate in form, opaque, yellowish, with three 

 (rarely four) nearly parallel basal radii, which hardly extend to the 

 middle of the scale, and which reach the margin at the ends of in- 

 cisions, the base of the scale being coarsely scalloped with four 



