2 TELEOSTEI. 



influence, or above tlie sea level. Tlie larger the river, the greater is the probability of their extending their 

 range up it. The hard rayed fishes captured in the fresh waters, mostly belong to one of the following genera. 

 Lates, Ambassis, Na/tidms, Badis, Pristolepis, Scicena, Equula, Gohms and allied genera, Mugil, members of the 

 Labyrinthiform and Ophiocephalmd families, as well as the spined eels, and the Utropli. 



SYNOPSIS OF FAMILIES AMONGST THE ACANTHOPTERTGIL* 



First Group — ^Perciformes. 

 Body elevated or oblong, not elongate. No superbranohial organ. Spinous dorsal well developed, the 

 soft dorsal similar to the soft anal: ventrals thoracic, 1/4 or l/5.t Vent remote from the end of the tail, and 

 posterior to the ventral fins. No prominent anal papilla. 



1. PercidcB. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Neither molars nor cutting teeth. Vertical 

 fins generally scaleless. Lateral line ahnost invariably present and uninterrupted. J 



2. Squamipirmes. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Body mostly elevated and compressed. 

 Neither molars nor cutting teeth, setiform ones may exist in the jaws, or villiform ones on the palate. Vertical 

 fins scaled. Lateral line uninterrupted. 



3. Mullidm. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Teeth feeble, jaws and palate variously armed 

 or edentulous. Two long and stiff barbels below the chin. 



4. Nandidce. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Teeth feeble, but dentition more or less 

 complete. Lateral line interrupted or absent. 



6. Sparidoe. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Either rows of cutting or conical teeth in the 

 front of the jaws, or a lateral row of molars, or both conjoined. 



6. Cvrrhitidm. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Neither cutting nor molar teeth. Lower 

 pectoral rays unbranched. 



7. Scorpanidce. Preopercle articulated with the orbit. Some of the bones of the head anned. 



8. Teuthididce. Each ventral fin having two spines and three intermediate soft rays. 



Second group — Beryciformes. 



Body oblong or elevated. Head with large, subcutaneous, muciferous cavities. Ventral fins thoracic, 

 each with a spine, and less or more than five soft rays. Vent remote from the end of the tall, and posterior to 

 the ventral fins. 



9. BerycidcB as defined for the group. 



Third group — ^Kurtiformes. 



Body strongly compressed. A single dorsal fin, much less developed than the anal. Vent remote from 

 the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral fins. 



10. KurtidoB as defined for the group. 



Fourth group — ^Polynemiformes. 

 Mouth on the lower side of a prominent snout : muciferous system on the head well developed. Two 

 rather short dorsal fins : several free and articulated filaments below each pectoral. Scales more "or less 

 covering the vertical fins. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral fins. 



11. Polynemidce as defined for the group. 



Fifth group— Sciasniformes. 

 Muciferous system on the head well developed. The second dorsal fin much more developed than the 

 first, or the anal : no pectoral filaments. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral 

 fins. 



12. ScicenidoB as defined for the group. 



Sixth group— Xiphiiformes. 

 long, 



13. XiphiidcB as defined for the group. 



The upper jaw produced into a long, sword-like process. Vent remote from the end of the tail and 

 posterior to the ventral fins. ' 



* This synopsis of the Families of Acanthopterygian fishes existing in India, is taken, with as slight alterations as possible from 

 the elahorate one in the British Museum Catalogue of Fish, Vol. iii, Appendix. By adhering to this, it has been considered tC 

 reference to the specimens in the national collection would be facilitated. ""omciou, mai 



fi I. oil ^^^'® ^^^ exceptions ; thus in some genera amongst the Bcorpwmdm, the rays are rudimentary, and in TeutUdidce the ventral 



t For exceptions, see Genm Ambassis, also Poey has recorded from Cuba a Genus nearly allied to Lviianus but which 

 amongst other things, is distinguished by havuig an interrupted lateral line. -"twtwtws, out wnicn, 



