Chissijication of the ih-der Ostan'oph>/s{. 5G7 



tlie small nicsoptervgoid is attaclied to tlie lower surface of 

 tlie palatine. There is no post-temporal, and the siipra- 

 eleithnun is like that of the Runoce|)halidje, with the lower 

 limb slender, the upjjer attaehed to the s\ipraoeeipital and 

 almost reaehiiig the neural crest of the complex vertebra, 

 and the outer division of the stem superior, directed back- 

 wards above and united to the parapophysis of the fourth 

 vertebra ; a mesocoracoid is present and tlie hypocoracoids 

 interlock below. Vertebra? 35 (10 + 25); free praecaudals 

 Mith ribs attaehed interiorly to short parapophyses ; fifth 

 jiarapophysis moderate, at the base laminar and united with 

 the fourth ; anterior ramus of fourth parapophysis strong, 

 broad, united distally with the supra-eleithrum, posterior 

 ramus relatively small, similar to the fifth parapophysis. 

 Air-bladder large, free, partly constricted iuto two lateral 

 tlivisions. 



Family 12. SchilbeidaB. 



Closely related to the Bagridae, but with the anal fin elon- 

 gate and with the ptei'vgoid absent ; pelvic fins 6-rayed. 



Indian and African fresh-water fishes; the more gene- 

 ralized members of the family are very near the Bagridie, 

 but the group is a varied one. The skull is extremely 

 similar in all, differing from that of the Bagridse and Amiu- 

 ridse in its straight parallel edges, the lateral ethmoids 

 scarcely projecting outwards in front of the orbit nor the 

 pterotics behind the articulation of the hyomandibular. The 

 vertebrae number 47 to 58 (10-20+29-47). 



The genera tnay be arranged as follows : — ■ 



I. Dorsal fin with a pungent spine ; teeth well developed ; post- 

 temporal present ; hypocoracoids interlocking below ; lower limb 

 of supra-eleithrum tree. {Schilbeince.) 



A. Air-bladder as in the Bagridae ; anterior vertebrae as in Rita ; 



anterior ramus of parapophysis of fourth vertebra stout, con- 

 nected with posterior at the base ; vertebrae ll-17+yU-41, 



African Schilhe, Eutropius. 



Indian Pseitdeulropins, Lais, Helico- 



phayus, Sihindia. 



B. Cavity of air-bladder divided longitudiually into two ; para- 



pophysis of fourth vertebra a lamina with the anterior and 

 posterior edges decurved to form a semi-cylinder; vertebrae 

 19-20+29-33. 



Indian SchiJhichthys, Eutropiichthys. 



