10(1 MUGILID.i:.— POLYNEMID^. 



nearly twice as long as deep. Scales ctenoid, 40-45 in longitudinal 

 series, 13-14 in transverse series. Silvery, brownish on tlie back. 



Total length 1^30 millim. 



Mauritius, Ilcunion, and Comoro Islands. 



]. Type. Miuiritius. 



2-3. Ad. JoliaiiiKi. Comoro Ids. Sir L. rhiyfair (P.). 



4. Sk.-l. „ „ ■„ 



r)-7. Yg. Anjiwii, „ I'lof. Vv. IV'teri^ (P.). 



Fam. 17. POLYNEMID.E. 



Month protractile, the maxillaries excluded from tlie oval border ; 

 dentition feeble. Two nostrils on each side. Two well-separated dorsal 

 fins, the anterior formed of a small number of spines. Pectoral fin 

 inserted low down, with a lower portion consisting of free rays ; the 

 upper portion, or fin proper, attached to the scapula, the lower to a 

 fenestrate bone wliich appears to be formed by coalesced pterygials. 

 Ventral fins more or less behind the pectorals, witli one spine and 5 

 soft rays ; pelvic bones suspended from the postclavicles. Prajcaudal 

 vertebme mostly with strong parapophyses, bearing the ribs and the 

 epiideurals at their extremity. Vcrlebrae 24. Air-bladder, if present, 

 very large. 



The three closely allied marine genera composing this family are 

 represented in Africa by species known to ascend rivers. 



1. PENTANEMUS. 



Arteili, in .Sclw, Tlicsaur. iii. p. 74 (1758) ; Giiiiih. Cat. Fisli. ii. p. 330 (18G0) ; 

 Bouleiig. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 359 (liJOl). 



Yilliform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer, and on the palatines and 

 cctoptcrygoids. Maxillary much widened behind. Edge of puc- 

 opercuhun entire. Anal fin elongate, much more developed than the 

 soft dorsal. 



Tropical Atlantic. 



1. PENTANEMUS QUINQUARIUS. 

 I'oli/nemiis quinquarhis, Liuu. S.N. i. p. 521 (17Cl')); Gill, Proc. Ac. Philad. 18G1, 



p. 278. 

 Poli/neinus arledii, Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1830, p. 14G. 

 Polt/uemxs niacroneimig, Pel, Bijdr. Dierk. 1851, p. i). 



