SCI^NIDiE. 265 



Fam. 12. SCI^ENIDiE. 



Scirenoidei, pt., Cin\ Rh/ne A/mn. ; Cuv. Sf Veil, v. p. 1 ; Millie)-, Berl. 



Ahhandl. 1844, p. 201. 

 Sciasmd.'B, pt., Oicen, Led. Comp. Annt. Vert. i. p. 49; Richardson, 



Ichlliyol. 



Body compressed and rather elongate, covered with ctenoid scales. 

 Lateral line continuous, and often continued on the tail. Mouth in 

 front of the snout. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Seven branchio- 

 stegals. Teeth in \'il]iform bands, with canines in some of the 

 genera ; no molars or trenchant teeth in the jaw's ; no teeth on the 

 palate. Cheek not cuirassed ; the opercles not, or feebly, armed. 

 Two dorsal fins, the soft much more developed than the spinous or the 

 anal ; the spines of the first dorsal generally feeble and elevated ; 

 the anal fin with two spines. All the rays of the pectorals branched ; 

 ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five soft rays. The bones of 

 the head with the muciferous system very developed. Stomach 

 csecal ; pyloric appendages in small or moderate number. Air- 

 bladder* with branching or very elongate appendages, sometimes 

 absent. Pseudobranchiae sometimes hidden. 



Mostly inhabitants of the seas of the temperate and tropical re- 

 gions ; a few inhabiting the fresh waters of America, Africa, and the 

 East Indies, Not to be found in Australia. 



Synopsis of the Oenera. 

 A. Lower jaw with barbels. 



Chin with many small barbels. Pharyngeal teeth pavement- 

 like 2. POGONIAS. 



Chin with several minute barbels. Pharyngeal teeth conical ' 



and pointed 3. Micropogon. 



One single barbel 4. Umbrina. 



Two barbels. The pectoral and caudal fins very elongate... 13. Lonchurus. 



B. Barbels none. 



The lower jaw longest ; no large canines ; air-bladder simple. 1 . Larimus. 



Dorsal and caudal fins covered with scales ; the first dorsal 



very elevated ; anal spmes feeble 5. Eques. 



Dorsal and caudal fins covered with scales ; anal spines 



strong 6. PACiiYURas. 



* Air-bladder simple in Larimus and Eques. 



