640 TELEOSTEI chap. 



Eepresented in the Upper Eocene of Europe by several species 

 of Atherina and by the extinct genus Bhamphognathus. 



Fam. 4. Mugilidae. — Maxillary excluded from the border 

 of the upper jaw ; dentition feeble or absent. Body covered with 

 cycloid scales. Eibs attached to the extremity of strong parapo- 

 physes. Pectoral fins inserted high up ; ventral fins more or 

 less approximated to the pectorals, with one spine and five soft 

 rays ; pelvic bones suspended from the post-clavicles. Two well- 

 separated dorsal fins, the anterior formed of a small number of 

 spines. Air-bladder present. 



These Fishes are closely i-elated to the preceding, of which 

 they are a further specialisation, the pharyngeal bones having a 

 complicated structure, much reducing the oesophageal opening, 

 and the vertebrae being reduced in number (24 to 26 instead of 

 32 to 60). They feed on organic matter contained in mud, and 

 inhabit the fresh waters and coasts of the temperate and tropical 

 regions. The species number about 100. Principal genera: 

 Mugil, Myxus, Anostomus, Joturus. Grey Mullets (Mugil) are 

 represented on our coasts by three species, valued as food, one of 

 which (M. capito) has a remarkably wide range, occurring from 

 Scandinavia to the Cape of Good Hope. Eemains referred to the 

 same genus occur in the Miocene and Oligocene. 



Fam. 5. Polynemidae. — Maxillary excluded from the border 

 of the upper jaw ; dentition feeble. Body covered with ctenoid 



Fig. 391. — Shoulder -girdle and pelvis of Polynemus quadrifilis. cl, Clavicle; cor, 

 coracoid ; pec, pectoral rays ; pel, pelvis ; 2^t, pterygials ; ptcl, post-clavicle ; pte, 

 post-temporal ; sc, scapula ; scl, supra-clavicle ; ven, ventral rays. 



