SYNODONTIDiE. — XXXII. 75 



Cape Cod to Texas, common S. (To Prof. Samuel Latham Mitch- 

 ill, of New York, an early ichthyologist.) 

 bb. Anal fin moderate, its rays about 20, its base 4i in body. 



177. S. browni (Gmelin). Snout pointed, considerably pro- 

 jecting; belly somewhat serrated; eye 3-J in head; teeth in both 

 jaws. Translucent, silvery band ; sharply defined, about as broad 

 as eye. Head 3f ; depth 4|. D. 15. A. 20. Lat. 1. 40. L. 6. Cape 

 Cod to Brazil, exceedingly abundant S. (To Mr. P. Browne, 

 author of Nat. Hist, of Jamaica, in 1 756.) 



aa. Body elongate, less compressed, the depth less than one-fifth the length ; 

 insertion of D. midway between snout and C. 



178. S. argyrophanus (Cuv. & Val.). Tail long and slender; 

 snout pointed, projecting; belly not serrated ; eye 4 in head; teeth 

 in jaws present, feeble ; anal short, its base 5 J in body ; silvery 

 lateral band broad, diffuse, broader than eye. Head 3f ; depth 6. 

 D. 14. A. 19. L. 4. Wood's HoU, Mass., and S. (S. eurystole 

 Swain & Meek.) (apyvpos, silver ; (palva>, to show.) 



Family XXXH. SYNODONTID^. (The Lizard-fishes.) 



Body elongate, subterete, covered with cycloid scales ; head de- 

 pressed ; mouth very wide, its margin formed by the slender pre- 

 maxillaries ; the maxillaries closely joined to them ; teeth usually 

 strong, cardiform, the large ones often depressible ; no barbels ; 

 sides of head usually scaly; adipose fin usually present; D. short, 

 median; C. forked. Air-bladder small or wanting ; skeleton weakly 

 ossified ; no phosphorescent spots. Ovaries with an oviduct. 

 Genera 6 or 8 ; species about 2.5, mostly of deep waters in warm 

 regions. (More or less related to this family are several others : 

 Slomiatidm, Scopelidce, Chauliodontidce, etc., found in the deep 

 waters off our coasts. JNIost of these deep-sea forms are provided 

 with phosphorescent spots. A very full account of them has been 

 lately published by Dr. Giinther, — Deep-sea Fishes of the Chal- 

 lenger Exped.) 



a. Teeth not barbed; maxillary not dilated behind; teeth on palatines in a 

 single band on each side; shore-fishes Syxodus, 77. 



77. SYNODUS (Gronow) Bloch & Schneider. 

 ((Tvvoiovs, ancient name of some fish). 

 179. S. fcEtens (L.). Lizard-fish. Snake-fish. Dorsal 

 slightly higher than long; snout longer than broad; lower jaw in- 

 cluded ; scales of cheeks in 7 rows ; ventrals 2^ in head. Olivaceous, 

 back mottled ; top of head vermiculated ; V. and mouth yellow. 

 Head 4} ; depth 6 or 7. D. 11. A. 11. Scales 4-64-6. L. 12. 

 Cape Cod to Fla., on sandy coasts. (Lat., iU-scented.) 



