ODONTOGNATHUS. ODONTOGNATHUS. 



Generic Character. 



Lamina longa, denticulata, 

 mobilis utrinque maxillee 

 superior! adnata. 



Membr. branch, radiis quin- 

 que. 



Mouth furnished with a 

 strong, moveable lamina 

 or process on each side 

 the upper jaw. 



Gill-membrane five-rayed. 



ACULEATED ODONTOGNATHUS. 



Odmitognathus abdomine aculeato. 

 Odontognathus with aculeated abdomen. 

 L'Odontognathe aiguillonne. Cepede pise. 2. p 222. 



JL HE genus Odontognathus, instituted by Cepede, 

 consists of a single species, of which the following is 

 the description. The head, body, and tail are very 

 compressed : the lower jaw, which is longer than the 

 upper, is very much elevated towards the other when 

 the mouth is closed, insomuch as to appear almost 

 vertical, and is lowered somewhat in the manner of 

 a drawbridge when the mouth is opened, when it 

 appears like a small scaly boat, very transparent, 

 furrrowed beneath, and finely denticulated on the 

 margins : this lower jaw, in the act of depression, 

 draws forwards two flat, irregular laminae of a scaly 

 substance, a little bent at their posterior end, and 



