ABDOMINAL MALACOPTF.RYGIANS. 199 



One species, Salmo filamentosus, Bl., Berl. Scbr. X, ix, 2, is 

 found in the Mediterranean. 



* Stern optyx, Herman, 



Constitute a genus of small fishes with an elevated and very compressed 

 body, supported by the ribs; their mouth is directed upwards; their bu- 

 merals form a trenchant crest in front, terminated below by a small spine, 

 and the bones of the pelvis form another, also ending in a small spine 

 in front of the ventrals, which are so small as to have escaped the notice 

 of the first observer. There is a series of small fossuhe along each side 

 of the pelvic crest, which has been considered as a festooned duplicature 

 of the sternum, whence the name of Sternoptyx. Before their first dor- 

 sal is an osseous or membranous crest which belongs to the anterior in- 

 terspinals, and behind that fin a slight membranous projection is visible, 

 which represents the adipose fin of the Salmon; the sides of the mouth 

 are formed by the maxillaries. Two species are found in the Atlantic, 

 which may one day constitute the types of two separate genera. 



jS". diaphana, Herman, Naturforscher, Fasc. XVI, pi. 8; copied 

 Walbaum, Artcd. renov. torn. Ill, pi. 1, f. 2. Teeth small and 

 crowded; five rays in the branchiae; its form is singularly oblique, 

 the mouth being out of a vertical line. 



S. Olfersii, Cuv. Teeth hooked, and nine rays in the branchiae. 

 Both these species are taken in the warm parts of the Atlantic 

 Ocean*. 



The fifth family of the Abdominal Malacopterygians is that of 



FAMILY V. 



CLUPE.E, 



Herrings, which are easily recognized by their having no adipose fin ; the 

 upper jaw is formed, as in the Trouts, by intermaxillaries without pedicles 

 in the middle, and by the maxillaries on the sides ; the body is always 

 covered with numerous scales, and in the greater number we find a nata- 

 tory bladder and many caeca. A part only of the family ascend rivers. 

 The 



Clupea, Lin., 



Have two well-marked characters in the narrow and short intermaxilla- 

 ries, that constitute but a small portion of the upper jaw, the sides of 

 which are completed by the maxillaries, so that these sides are alone pro- 

 tractile; and in the inferior edge of the body, which is compressed, and 

 where the scales are dentated as in the edge of a saw. The maxillaries 



* Our descriptions are drawn from nature. Herman refused to allow his speci- 

 men branchial rays and ventrals, although it possesses both; it is still in existence at 

 Strasbourg. We shall be more particular on this subject in our Ichthyology. 



