274 POLYNEMirS. 



Genus lAV .—Polynetnus. 



This tribe contains three fpeciea, all of which are rai"<^ 

 exotics, which never vifit our feas. Their bodies are 

 oblong, thick, and covered with fcales ; as is alfo the 

 head, which flopes off into an obtufe fnout. The jaws 

 are of equal length when open ; but when Ihut, the lower 

 islongeftj both are furnifticd with fiTJiill, thick and immove- 

 able teeth. The tongue is narrov/ and fmooth ^ but the 

 palate is exafperated with a number of fharp tubercles. 

 The eyes are of a middle fize, placed at a great diftance 

 from each other, and covered with the common tegu- 

 ment of the head ; before them appear the two large 

 ajjertures of the nofe. 



The fides are compreiTed, and the abdomen carinated ; 

 each of the lateral lines are fmooth, and bend in a di- 

 re(Stion parallel to the back. There are two dorfal fins j 

 the firft fpinous, and placed about the fifti's equilibrium j 

 and the fecond, which is larger, behind it. The pec- 

 toral fins are long and narrow ; the ventral are placed in 

 the abdomenj the tail is large, broad, and bifurcated. 



