416 FISHES. 



Villiform teetli in the jaws, on the vomer, and palatine bones. 

 Air-bladder present. A cleft behind the fourth gill. 



Two species from the Indian Ocean. These fishes are 

 very small, but of interest on account of the prolongation of 

 their pectoral fins, which indicates that they can take long 

 flying leaps out of the water. However, this requires confir- 

 mation by actual observation, 



ActRiopus. — Head and body compressed, scaleless ; head with- 

 out any, or with very feeble, armature. Cleft of the mouth 

 small, at the end of the produced snout. One dorsal fin, which 

 commences from the head, the spinous portion being formed 

 by from seventeen to twenty-one strong spines ; anal short. 

 Villiform teeth in the jaws, generally none on the vomer. 



Seven species. This singular genus is peculiar to the 

 temperate parts of the South Pacific, occurring at the Cape, 

 on the coast of South Australia, and Chili. The largest 

 species (A. torvus) attains a length of two and a half feet. 

 Nothing is known of its mode of life. 



Synanceja. — General appearance of the fish, especially of the 

 head, monstrous. Scales none ; skin with numerous soft warty 

 protuberances or filaments. Mouth directed upwards, wide. 

 Eyes small. From thirteen to sixteen dorsal spines ; pectoral 

 fins very large. Villiform teeth in the jaws, and sometimes on 

 the vomer. 



Four species are known from the Indo-Pacific, of which 

 S. horrida and S. verrucosa are the most generally distributed, 

 and, unfortunately, the most common. They are justly feared 

 on account of the great danger accompanying wounds which 

 they inflict with their poisoned dorsal spines, as has been 

 already noticed above, p. 191. The greatest length to which 

 they attain* does not seem to exceed eighteen inches. They 

 are very voracious fishes, and their stomach is of so great a 

 capacity that they are able to swallow fishes one-third of 

 their own bulk. 



MiCROPus. — Head and body strongly compressed, short, and 



