498 FISHES. 



American species {Z. anguillaris) attains to a length of two 

 or three feet. 



Other genera of the family of Blennoids are : — Blennophis, 

 Nemophis, Plagiotremus, Neodinus, Cebidichthys, Myxodes, 

 Hetcrostichus, Dictyosoma, Lcpidohlciuiius, Dactyloscopus, Gunel- 

 lichthys, Urocentrus, Sticliccopsis, Sticharmm, Notograptiis, 

 Pholidichthys, and Pseiulohlcnniits. 



Fifth Family — AcANTHOCLiNiDJi;. 



Body elongate, low, comp)ressed, covered ivith smcdl scales. 

 One clorscd fin, occupying nearly the lohole of the hack, and 

 chiefly composed of spines. Ancdfin long, with numerous spines. 

 Ventrcds jugular, composed of a few rays only. 



Of this family one fish only is known [Aeanthoclinus 

 littoreus), a small Blenny abnndant on the coast of New 

 Zealand. 



Sixth Family — Mastacembelid.f:, 



Body elongate, eel-like, covered with very small scales. 

 Mandible long, hut little moveahle. Dorsal fin very long, the 

 anterior portion composed of numerous short isolated spines ; 

 ancd fin with spines anteriorly. Ventrals none. The humercd 

 arch is 7iot susp)ended from the sJcidl. Gill-openings reduced 

 to a slit at the lower part of the side of the head. 



Freshwater-fishes characteristic of and almost confined to 

 the Indian region. The structure of the mouth and of the 

 branchial apparatus, the separation of the humeral arch from 

 the skull, the alisence of ventral fins, the anatomy of the 

 abdominal organs, affords ample proof that these fishes are 

 Acanthopterygian eels. Their upper jaw terminates in a 

 pointed moveable appendage, which is concave and transversely 

 striated interiorly in Bhynehohdella, and without transverse 

 striie in Mastacemhelas ■: the only two genera of this family. 



