158 U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



of soft articulated rays as in the malacopterian order, and the ventrals, abdominal in their 

 position, are likewise composed exclusively of soft and articulated rays. The air bladder has no 

 air duct leading to the throat. There is no cul-de-sac to the stomach ; the pyloric appendages 

 are also absent. The stomach itself is straight and hardly distinguishable from the intestine 

 into which it gradually passes. The pseudobranchiae are glandulous, being covered by the 

 mucous membrane of the branchial apertures and hence concealed. The gills are all fully 

 developed, the last branchial aperture being also extant. 



Syn. —Scomberesoccs, Mill, in fficgm. Arcliiv fur Naturg. I, 1843, 310; &, I, 1845, 13G. 



Scomberesociitae, Owen, Lcct. on Coinp. Anat. Vertebr. 1846,48. — Bd. Iconogr. Encycl. 11, 1850, 204. 



As the name implies, the fishes of this family bear some external resemblances to the macque- 

 rels (Scomber) amongst the Acauthopterians and the pickerels (Ewx) amongst Physostomians 

 or abdominal Malacojiterygians. It is one of those instances in which the true characters, the 

 ones which decide of the affinities and relationships of a group, are often hidden under forms 

 analogous to other groups. 



BELONE, Cuv. 



Gen. Char. — Body very elongated, anguilliform, and very slender. Head long and slender also. Upper jaw formed exclu- 

 sively l>y the intcrmaxillarics, which constitute, together with the lower jaw, a slender and pointed bill. Slender and conical teeth 

 on both jaws, whicli are margined e.xteiiorly by small prickles or else very e.\iguous teeth. No lips at all. The roof of the 

 mouth generally smooth. Opercle and preopercle smooth. Branchial apertures continuous under the throat. One dorsal fin 

 siiuatcd very far back and opposed to the anal. Posterior margin of caudal generally emarginated. Ventrals inserted about 

 the middle of the body. Upper surface of head, cheeks, and opercular apparatus provided with very small scales. Scales of 

 body, small. 



SvN Belone, Cuv. Rfgn. anini. 11, 1817, 185 ; 2d ed. 11, 1829 ; &, cd. illustr. Poiss. 233— Cuv. &. Val. Hist. nat. des Poiss. 



XVllI, 1846, 389.— DeKat, New Y. Fauna IV, 1842, 227.— Storer, Synops. 1846, 186. 



The species of this genus are known in the United States under the names of "bill-fish," 

 "silver gar," and "gar-fish;" the latter being a misajiplication, since it properly belongs to 

 the various species of Lepidosteus. They are by no means common, that is to say, not numer- 

 ous in individuals, unless they should frequent the deep and inaccessible bottoms. In their 

 geograijhic distribution they extend over a wide range of the temperate zone, although each 

 region appears to own its peculiar species. 



BELONE EXILIS, Grd. 



Spec. Char. — Anterior margin of anal situated in advance of the dorsal. Caudal fin moderately emarginated ; inferior lobe 

 ■lightly the largest. Ventral fins small. Scales larger on the flanks than on the dorsal region. Lateral line sub-median, 

 inconspicuous. Another line e-xtends from the inferior edge of the branchial o])cnings alontr the lower portion of the fianks, 

 and meets the lateral line above the terminus of the anal fin. Back dark green ; middle of flanks silvery ; lower hall of sides 

 and belly rufous. Fins olivaceous ; upper ones dark, lower ones lighter. 



Syn.— Be/one txilii, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 149. 



The entire length of the specimen described measures about twelve inches and a half, the 

 head forming a little less than tho third of it. The body is very slender, tapering gradually 

 posteriorly, and sub-cylindrical : the depth being somewhat greater tlian the width. The 

 occipito-frontal region is flattened and the inter-ocular region longitudinally grooved. The eye 



