418 FISHES. 



Eighth Family — Nandid.e. 



Body oblong, compressed, covered ivith sccdes. Lateral line 

 interrupted. Dorsal fin formed hy a spinous and soft portion, 

 the number of spines and rays heiny nearly equal ; anal fin tvith 

 three spines^ and vnth the soft portion similar to the soft dorsal. 

 Ventral fins thoracic, with one spine, and five or four rays. 

 Dentition more or less complete, hid feeble. 



This small family consists of two very distinct groups. 



A. Plesiopina. Marine fishes of small size, with pseudo- 

 branchiie and only four ventral rays. Plcsiops from the coral- 

 reefs of the Indo-Pacific, and Tracldnops from the coast of 

 New Sonth Wales, belong to this gronp. 



B. Nandina. Freshwater fishes of small size from the 

 East Indies, without psendobranchite, and five ventral rays. 

 The genera are Badis, Nandns, and Catopra. 



Ninth Family — Polycenteid.e. 



Body compressed, deep, scaly. Latercd line none. Dorsal 

 and anal fins long, both with numerous spines, the spinous 

 portion being the more dcvelojMxl. Vcntrals thoracic, ivith one 

 spine and fioc soft rays. Teeth feeble. PseudobrancJiiee, 

 hidden. 



Only two genera, each represented by one or two species 

 in the Atlantic rivers of Tropical America, Polycentrus and 

 Monocirrhus, belong to this family. They are small insecti- 

 vorous fishes. 



Tenth Family — Teuthidid^. 



Body oblong, strongly compressed, covered with very small 

 sccdes. Latercd line continuous. Bye latercd, of moderate size. 

 A single series of cutting incisors in each jaiv ; palate tooth- 

 less. One dorsal fin, the spinous portion being the more deve- 



