XXI MALACOPTERYGII 547 
This family is abundantly represented in Cretaceous times by 
the genera Osmeroides and Elopopsis, and from the Lower Eocene 
to the present day by Hops and Megalops. Hlops saurus is a 
handsome elongate silvery Fish, found in all the warm and tropical 
seas; the young are ribbon-shaped like those of <Albula. A 
second species, #. lacerta, is from the West Coast of Africa, enter- 
ing rivers. Jegalops, distinguished by larger scales, the absence 
of pseudobranchiae, and the curious prolongation of the last ray 
of the dorsal fin, includes the well-known Tarpon Jf atlanticus, 
and the Indian Jf cyprinoides. The Tarpon oceurs from the 
Fig. 326.—Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, much reduced. (After Goode.) 
south-eastern coasts of North America and the West Indies to 
Brazil, and reaches a length of 6 feet and a weight of 110 Ibs. 
It often leaps out of the water, after the manner of Grey Mullets, 
and its chase when hooked affords good sport, the landing of so 
active a giant being attended with great difficulties. Its remark- 
ably large scales, over two inches in diameter, are much prized 
for fancy work in the Florida curiosity shops. 
Fam. 6. Albulidae.—Margin of the upper jaw formed by the 
praemaxillaries and the maxillaries, the latter movably articulated 
above the former to the ethmoid. Parietal bones separating the 
supraoccipital from the frontals; suboperculum large; inter- 
operculum small and entirely or nearly entirely hidden below the 
praeoperculum. Basis cranii double. Praemaxillaries, mandible, 
vomer, palatines, pterygoid, parasphenoid, glossohyal, and pharyn- 
geals toothed. Ribs sessile, inserted behind and somewhat below 
small parapophyses, which are absent or merely indicated on the 
anterior vertebrae, and gradually increase in size towards the 
caudal region; these parapophyses, as well as the neural and 
haemal arches, are autogenous bones ; epineurals, no epipleurals. 
