STNGNATHUS.— ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



89 



ndge continuous. Snout as long as or a little longer than postocular 

 part of head ; a short ridge on the anterior part of the operculum ; 

 a ndge along the upper surface of the head and on the nape. Dorsal 

 27-29, originating above vent and occupying 7 rings. Anal 2. Pectoral 



Syngnatlms algeriensis. 

 Type. 



and caudal fins well developed, but small. " Pouch half as long as 

 tail." * Brown to blackish, with more or less regular series of white 

 dots, brown spots, and irregular patches. 



Total length 115 millim. 



Fresh waters of Algeria; Lake Menzaleh, Egypt. 



l-o, 4. Types. Confluence of the Wed Cherif and tlie Sir L. Playfair (P.). 



Wed Bou-Hamdan, Prov. Constan- 



tine, 60 miles from the sea. 

 5. Ad. L. Menzaleh. Dr. J. C. Mitchell (P.). 



6-7- Ad. „ L. Loat, Esq. (C). 



Suborder VIII. A C ANTHOPTER YGI I. 



Air-bladder without open duct. Supraoccipital bone separating the 

 parietals, in contact with the frontals. Pectoral arch suspended from 

 the skull ; no mesocoracoid. Ventral fins thoracic or jugular, or, if 

 abdominal, usually connected with the pectoral arch at least by ligament. 

 Gill-opening usually large. Part of the dorsal and anal fins usually 

 formed of spines, or of non-articulated rays. 



Synopsis of the Families. 



I. Ventral fins inserted below or a little behind vertical of base of pectorals. 

 A. No superbranchial cavity. 



1. Ventral fins, if fully developed, with one spine and five soft rays ; 

 anal fin with pungent spine or spines ; scapula and coracoid large. 



* The male specimen on which this statement in the original description is based is no 

 longer in the Museum. 



