FISHES. 137 



Fossil clupeoid fishes are abundant in tertiaiy and other comparatively recent 

 formations, but many of them appear to belong to families related to the Clupeidse, 

 rather than to that group itself, as at present defined. 



In the faniily of Chanid^ the mouth is small and toothless, the abdomen flat- 

 tened below, the intestines elongate, and the gill membranes fully united below the 

 isthmus. Two species are known, both found in the Pacific. One of these ( Chanos 

 chanos) has a remarkably wide distribution, it being abundant in the Gulf of Cali- 

 fornia and in the Red Sea, as well as in various intermediate localities. It reaches a 

 length of about four feet. 



The Elopid^e are especially distinguished by the presence of a flat plate or mem- 

 brane bone between the branches of the lower jaw, somewhat like the plate found 

 in the ganoid genus Ainia. In other respects, they are much like the herrings, 

 although they reach a much larger size than the latter and have a complete 

 lateral line. The species, four or five in number, are widely distributed in the 

 tropical and semi-tropical seas, although sometimes entering fresh waters. They are 

 little valued as food. 



The grande 6caille, tarpum or sabalo {Megalops atlanticus) of our southern 

 coasts and the West Indies, reaches a length of five or six feet. It is remarkable for 

 the great size of its scales, which arc now largely used in ornamental work. It often 

 leaps out of the water, after the manner of the mullets, and instances are recorded of 

 persons having been severely injured by being struck by one of them. A similar 

 species (Megalops cypriiioides) is found in the East Indies. 



The ' ten-pounder ' (Elops saurus) is one of the most widely distributed of fishes. 

 It is found on our South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, throughout the West Indies and 

 on both coasts of tropical America, and in the west'ern Pacific from the Cape of Good 

 Hope to China. Where found, it is used chiefly for bait. 



The family of AismjiJDM consists of a single species (Albula vulpes) the bone-fish 

 or lady-fish of our Atlantic coasts, the French mullet or macabe of the Spanish Creoles. 

 Its range is almost co-extensive with that of Elops saurus, and it is generally even 

 more abundant. It is a subcylindrical, graceful and beautifully silvery fish, with a 

 small mouth, overlapped by a conical jDig-likc snout. Its teeth are rounded and 

 granular. It is a gamey fish, taking the hook readilj', and in some localities (as Key 

 West) it is held in high esteem as a food fish, while in most others it is used only 

 for bait. The value of food fishes depends as often on local whims and fashions as 

 on real differences in the character of the flesh. The family Batiiytheissid^, deep- 

 sea fishes from the North Pacific, is somewhat allied to the Albulidie and ClupeidiB, 

 but has a longer dorsal fin. 



The Hyodontid^, or inoon-eyes, inhabit the rivers of the central portion of the 

 United States and British America. They are shad-like fishes, covered with large and 

 very brilliantly silvery scales, and the dentition is very strong, nearly every j)art of 

 the mouth being armed with strong, curved teeth. These teeth are largest on the 

 tongue. In this family, there is no oviduct, the eggs falling into the abdominal cavity 

 before exclusion. Three species are known, very similar to each otlier in appearance, 

 and all reaching the length of about a foot. They are very handsome fishes, active 

 and gamey, but of little value as food, the flesh being poor and bony. 



The family of Goistoehtnchid^ comprises only the sand eel, {Gonorhynchus 

 gonorhynchus), an elongate fish with spiny scales, and with barbels about the mouth, 

 found in the western Pacific. 



