164 OSTEOLOGY OF SYNAPHOBKANCHID^ — GILL. 



with, and might even be approximated to, those fishesr In this case, 

 however, it will be evident, on comparing the structural characteristics 

 of the several forms, that the resemblance is entirely illusive. As will 

 be manifest on perusal of the description of the Synaphobranchroid char- 

 acteristics, the family is typically apodal, and closely related to the 

 Congridcv, Angniliidw, and kiudred families. On the other hand, the 

 Synbranchiate fishes have little in common with tbe true apodal fishes, 

 except the eel like form. Their structural features are entirely differ- 

 ent. They are, in fact, more nearly related to the ordinary pliysosto- 

 mous fishes than to the apodal, agreeing with the former, and differing 

 from the latter in the constitution of the circumoral bones (jaws, etc.), 

 the palato-pterygoid arches, and even the cranium, especially in the 

 possession of the exoccipital condyles. 



Two genera are known of the SynaphobrancMdcc, and they are closely 

 related, although differing markedly in the extent of the development 

 of the dorsal fin forwards. 



I. SYNAPHOBKANCHUS. 



Si/nonymy. 



= Synaphobrauchus Johnsoyt, Proc. Zool. Soc, London, 1862, p. 

 <^ Syuapbobraucbus Guniher. 



II. IIISTIOBKANCHUS. 



S)j)ioinjm!/. 



= Histiobraucbns Gill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., v. 6, p. 255, 1883. 

 <[Synai)bobrancbus sp. Giinther. 



