256 SCOMBRESOCID^.. 



B. Dorsal rays subequal in length, the anterior ones not forming a lobe. 

 Potamorrhaphis. 



45. Belone taeniata. 

 B. 7-8. D.30. A. 25. P. 7. V. 6. L.lat.180. 



Trunk tetrahedral, as broad as deep ; tail strongly compressed ; 

 crown of the head quite Mat; a median longitudinal groove com- 

 mences between the eyes and runs forward to the base of the iater- 

 maxillaries, where it is continued as a linear furrow. Beak broad, 

 strongly depressed, the lower jaw being broader and somewhat longer 

 than the upper. The length of the head is one-third of the total 

 (with the caudal) ; the diameter of the eye is less than the width of 

 the interorbital space, and two-fifths of the length* of the postorbital 

 part of the head. Jaws armed with a very narrow band of incon-, 

 spicuous asperities and with a series of small, fine teeth. Maxillary 

 larger and broader than, and oidy one-half hidden by, the proeorbital. 

 Ventral fin midway between the head and caudal. The anterior 

 dorsal rays are not much higher, and scarcely stronger, than the pos- 

 terior ones, the last terminating at a short distance from the caudal. 

 The anal commences behind the dorsal, and has the anterior rays 

 much stouter and longer than the posterior. Caiidal rounded ; pec- 

 toral a little longer than the postorbital part of the head. Light- 

 brownish, with a broad brownish-black lateral band, running from 

 the snout to the root of the caudal. 



Fresh waters of Brazil. 



a-c. From 10 to 11 inches long. River Capin. Purchased of Mr. 

 Stevens. 



46. Belone scolopacina. 



Cuv. 8f Val. xviii. p. 428. 



D. 14. A. 17. 



No prominent keel on the sides of the tail. Beak remarkably 

 flattened ; skuU broad posteriorly, with a. very short groove on its 

 upper surface. Superciliary region without stria?, pierced with pores. 

 Eyes large and prominent. Pectorals small, narrow, falciform ; the 

 dorsal fin has all the rays of nearly equal length ; anterior lobe of 

 the anal rounded ; caudal apparently rounded. Scales well deve- 

 loped. {Val.) 



Mana. 



2. SCOMBRESOX. 



Scombresox, Lacep. v. p. 344. 



Both jaws prolonged into a long, slender beak, the upper part being 

 formed by the intermaxillaries ; both jaws with a series of extremely 

 minute teeth. Body elongate, compressed, slender, covered with 

 small, thin, deciduous scales. A number of detached finlets behind 

 the dorsal and anal fins. Gill-openings veiy wide. Intestinal track 

 simple, without pyloric appendages. Air-bladder large. 



Atlantic, coast of Chili ; New Zealand ; Japan. 



