AMiiD^. — cxn. 339 



{The Ganoid Fishes.) 



Skeleton bony or cartilaginous ; tail more or less 

 heterooercal ; optic nerves forming a chiasma; arterial 

 bulb rhythmically contractile, provided with several rows 

 of valves; air bladder frequently cellular and lung-like; 

 skin usually with bony plates; intestine usually with a 

 spiral valve; ventral fins, if present, abdominal. Of this 

 important sub-class but few species are now existing, 

 and these few vary widely from one another. Of the 

 earlier fossil fishes, a very large proportion are Ganoids. 



OEDEE 00 -OTOLOGANOIDEI. 



(The Cyeloganoida.) 



This order contains but a single species among recent 

 fishes. 



FAMILY CXII.— AMIID.E. 



{The Bow-Fins.) 



Body oblong, rather- stout, covered with thick cycloid 

 scales; tail heterocercal, the caudal peduncle curved 

 upwards behind, "like a sled-runner;" a large bony 

 buckler between branches of lower jaw; membrane 

 bones of head much developed, very hard; jaws broad, 

 with strong teeth in two sets, similar teeth on vomer, 

 jpalate and pterygoids; snout short, rounded; ventrals 

 large, abdominal; dorsal very long, the ravs of nearly 



