130 FISHES. 



Rhynchobdella, Bl. Schn. 



Have free spines on the back as in Centronotus, and two free spines be- 

 fore the anal, but, as in a true Xiphias, the ventrals are wanting; the 

 body is elongated. They are divided into two subgenera. In 



Macrognathus, Lacep. 



The muzzle is prolonged into a cartilaginous point, which extends 

 beyond the lower jaw; the second dorsal and the anal are distinct from 

 the caudal*. 



Mastacembelus, Gronov. 



The two jaws about equal, and the dorsal and anal almost united with 

 the caudal -f. Both subgenera inhabit the fresh waters of Asia and feed 

 on worms, which they obtain from the sand. Their flesh is much 

 esteemed. 



This is perhaps the proper place for a genus not yet well under- 

 stood. The 



Notacanthus, Bl. — Campi lodon, Oth. and Fab. 



The body much elongated, compressed, and covered with small soft 

 scales; the obtuse muzzle projects in front of the mouth, which is armed 

 with fine and closely-set teeth ; nothing on the back but free spines ; 

 ventrals behind and beneath, or on the abdomen; a very long anal reaches 

 to the tip of the tail, where it unites with a very small caudal. 



Not. vasus, Bl. 431. The only species known; it inhabits the 

 Arctic Ocean, and is two feet and a half in length. 



Seriola, Cuv. 



The Serioles present all the characters of a Lichia; a horizontal spine 

 before the first dorsal; a small free fin supported by two spines before the 

 anal; body compressed; a lateral line without carina or armature; but 

 the spines of the first dorsal are united into a fin by a membrane. 



One species, the Peche lait (Milk Fish) of the French at Pon- 

 dicherry; Scomber lactarius, Bl. Schn. ; Russ. 108; is remarkable 

 for the great delicacy of its flesh. 



Another, Seriola cosmopolita, Cuv. ; Scomber chloris, Bl. 339, 

 is noticed as one of the few fishes common to both oceans j. 



There is a species whose last dorsal and anal ray is detached, 

 Seriola bipinnulata, Cuv.; Zool. de Freycin., pi. 61, f. 3. 



* Rynehobdella orientalis, Bl. Schn., or Ophidism aculeatum, Bl. 159, 2, or Mn- 

 crognate aiguiUonne, Lacep. II, viii, 3; — Rh. polyacuntha, Bl. Schn., or Macrogvate 

 arme, Lacep.; Buchan, pi. xxxvii, x, 6; — Rh. oral, Bl. Schn., pi. lxxxix; — Mucrvg. 

 puncalus, Buchan, xxii, 7. 



f Rhynchobdella lialepensis, Bl. Schn.; Gronov. Zooph., pi. viii, a, x. 



% Add, Seriulc Dumeril, Risso; — Scomber fasciatus, BL .'311; — Seriule de Rafinesqae, 

 Risso, or Trachurus aquilus, Raft". Caratt. xi, 3. 



