FISHES. 
329 
ical teeth ; central ones above and those of the under jaw long; 
tongue and branchial arches having minute teeth ; each pectoral 
tin with a long acute scale above it : pectoral ray hard. 
Genus 27.—ERYTHRINUS.— Gronovius. 
Generic Character .—Each jaw with a row of conical teeth, 
central ones longer than the others; branchial membrane with 
tive rays; head without scales, orbicular, provided with osseous 
plates ; body covered with large, nearly circular, scales ; dorsal 
fin above the ventrals. 
Genus 28.—AMIA— Linnaeus. 
Generic Character .—Head provided with osseous plates and 
large scales ; branchial membrane having twelve depressed rays; 
nostrils with two cirri near them; teeth conic in front and ilat 
ones behind. 
Genus 29.—SUDIS.— Cuvier. 
Generic Character. —Head provided with osseous plates, but 
no scales; branchial membrane with five rays; teeth conical; 
dorsal and anal fins placed opposite. 
Genus 30. — LEPISOSTEUS.— Lacepede. 
Generic Character —Both jaws having internally rasp-like 
teeth, and a row of sharp pointed ones in the margin ; branchioe 
with three rays on each side, united under the throat by a com¬ 
mon membrane. 
Genus 31—POLYP TER US_ Geoffrey. 
Generic Character. —Margin of the upper jaw fixed; both 
jaws having a row of conical teeth, behind which are a set of 
rasp-like smaller ones •, cheeks covered by a large plate; bran¬ 
chial membrane with one flat ray; body elongated, covered with 
strong scales ; dorsal fins numerous, each supported by a strong 
spine; caudal fin surrounding the tail. 
Polypterus Bichir. — The Nilitic Polypterus. 
Plate LXXVIII. fig. 8. 
Body deep green, with several spots of black ; some indi¬ 
viduals are immaculate; scales very large. Inhabits the Nile. 
2 d 3 
