FISHES. 209 



** First dorsal with 4 stiff spines; body compressed; no lateral 

 band. Muyilidm, the Mullets. 



FAMILIES OF HEMIBRANCHII. 



* Bones of head moderately produced ; ventral fins of a stout 



spine and a rudimentary ray ; dorsal preceded by free spines; 

 scaleless, naked or with bony plates; an oblong, silvery, 

 naked area in front of pectorals. . GASTEHOSTEiDiE, 98. 



** Bones of head much produced, forming a long tube which 

 bears the short jaws at the end; ventral fins without spine. 



•j- Body compressed ; no teeth ; scales small ; dorsal fins two ; 

 first with spines. . . C entriscidce^ the Snipe Fishes. 



\\ Body greatly elongated ; teeth present ; no scales ; no dorsal 

 spines; middle rays of caudal produced into a long fila- 

 ment. . . . FistulariidoB, the Trumpet Fishes. 



FAMILIES OF SYNENTOGNATHL 



* Jaws one or both elongated into a long beak. 



f Both jaws elongated; no finlets; size large. 



Belonidce., the Gar -Fishes. 



ff Lower jaw only elongate, or else dorsal and anal with 

 detached finlets, as in the IMackerels. 



ScomberesocidcBy the Sauries. 



** Jaws moderate ; pectorals elongated, nearly as long as body, 

 used for " flying." . . Exoccetidw, the Flying Fishes. 



FAMILIES OF HAPLOMI. 



* Snout depressed and elongated, its length more than half the 



greatest depth of body ; jaws, vomer, palate and tongue armed 

 with strong, hooked teeth ; body elongated, sub-terete ; size 

 large ; in fresh water Esoctd^, 102. 



** Snout rounded and rather short, its length being less than half 

 the greatest depth of body ; teeth moderate ; size small. 



f Vent jugular, in front of pectorals; ej-es often undeveloped; 

 ventrals small or wanting; cave fishes. Amblyopsid.e, 103. 



ff Vent normal : eyes present ; ventrals well developed. 

 14 



