418 TELEOSTEI. PIIYSOSTOMI. 



bone. Dorsal fin rayed, sometimes with finlets posterior to it, 

 situated opposite the anal, arid in the caudal portion of the ver- 

 tebral column ; no adipose dorsal. Scales present, frequently a 

 keeled row along either side of the free portion of the tail. Air- 

 bladder generally present, sometimes cellular, and destitute of a 

 pneumatic duct. Stomach and intestines in one straight undivided 

 tube. Pyloric appendages absent. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical and temperate seas, some 

 of the species being resident in fresh water. 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 



Both jaws elongated into a beak. No finlets .... 1. BELOXE. 

 Upper jaw short, the lower elongated into a beak . 2. HEMIRHAMPHFS. 

 Jaws short ; pectoral fins elongated into organs for 

 flying 3. EXOCCETUS. 



1. Genus BELONE, Cuvier. 



Syn. Mnstacembelus (Klein), Bleeker ; Rhamphistoma, Eaf.; Tylo- 

 surus, Cocco ; Potamorrhaphis, Giinther. 



Branchiostegals rather numerous. Gill-openings wide. Body 

 elongate, subcylindrical or compressed. Eyes lateral. The jaws 

 prolonged into a beak, the upper formed by the premaxillaries. 

 Fine rugosities in both jaws, and a single row of long, widely- 

 set, conical teeth ; palate toothless in Indian species. The anterior 

 dorsal rays vary in elevation, sometimes forming a lobe to the fin : 

 no fiulets ; caudal usually forked. Scales small. Lateral line on 

 free portion of tail, with or without a keel. 



Uses. These Gar-fish are indifferent as food; their bones are 

 green, as observed in the European forms. 



In very young specimens the jaws are said not to be prolonged, 

 and as age increases the mandibles are considerably advanced 

 before the premaxillaries. Distinct varieties appear to be present 

 in some species, as Belone cancila, some of the inland forms of 

 which have an elevation along the back. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Caudal forked. 



A. 25-27 1. B. melanostigma, p. 418. 



A. 20-22. C. 15 2. B. annulata, p. 419. 



A. 19-20. C. 18 3. B. chorum, p. 4]9. 



B. Caudal truncated or rounded. 



D. 19. A. 22-24. Tail rounded 4. B. liura, p. 420. 



D. 15-18. A. 16-18. Tail truncated 5. B. candla, p. 420. 



D. 13-16. A. 16-18. Tail rounded 6. B. xtronyylura, p. 421. 



532. (1.) Belone melanostigma. 



Belone melanostigma (Elircnb.}, Cur. $ Val. II. JV. Toiss. xviii, 

 p. 450; Day, Fish. India, p. 509 (see synon.). 



