322 PISCES. 



disk : mouth broad ; both jaws, as well as the pharyngeans, 

 armed with small pointed teeth : gill-opening closed at 

 bottom ; branchiostegous membrane with six rays. 



(1. CYCLOPTERUS.) A first dorsal more or less obvious, with simple 

 rays ; a second, with branched rays, opposite the anal : body 

 thick. 



(2. LIPARIS.) Only one, moderately long, dorsal: anal long: body 

 smooth ; elongated, compressed behind. 



VIII. BCHBNEIDID^. An oval flattened disk 

 on the upper part of the head, composed of 

 several transverse cartilaginous plates directed 

 obliquely backwards, and toothed on their 

 posterior margin : body elongated, covered 

 with small scales. 



60. ECHENEIS. 



(III. APODES.) 



Ventral s wanting. 



IX. ANGUILLID^. Body very much elongated : 

 skin thick and soft ; the scales deeply imbedded, 

 and scarcely apparent. 



61. ANGUILLA Gills opening by a small aperture 



on each side beneath the pectoral : dorsal and anal fins pro- 

 longed round the end of the tail, forming by their union a 

 pointed caudal. 



(1. ANGUILLA.) Dorsal commencing considerably behind the pec- 

 torals : upper jaw shorter than the lower. 



(2. CONGER.) Dorsal commencing a little behind, sometimes imme- 

 diately above, the pectorals : upper jaw longest. 



(5.) OPHISURUS. Gills opening by a small aperture beneath the 

 pectorals : dorsal and anal not reaching to the end of the tail, which ter- 

 minates in a point, and is itself without a fin. 



