58 



PEISTIPOMATIDiE. 



" Body compressed and oblong, covered with 

 scales, the serrature of which is sometimes exceed- 

 ingly fine and sometimes wanting. Lateral line 

 continuous, not continued on the caudal fin. Mouth 

 in front of the snout, with lateral cleft. Eye lateral, 

 of moderate size. Five, six, or seven branchioste- 

 gals. Teeth in villiform bands, with pointed and 

 conical canines in some of the genera ; no molars 

 or trenchant teeth in the jaws, generally no teeth 

 on the palate ; jaws toothless in two of the genera. 

 No barbels. Cheek not cuirassed. One dorsal fin, 

 formed by a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal 

 development, the former of which either contains 

 strong spines or is continuous with the latter ; anal 

 similarly developed as the soft dorsal ; the lower 

 rays of the pectorals branched ; ventrals thoracic, 

 with one spine and five soft rays. The bones of the 

 head with a rudimentary or moderately developed 

 muciferous system. Stomach csecal ; pyloric appen- 

 dages in small or moderate number. Air-bladder 

 present, more or less simple. PseudobranchiaB well 

 developed. 



" Carnivorous fishes, without molar or trenchant 

 teeth, inhabiting the seas of the temperate and 

 tropical regions ; a few entering fresh waters." 



Those of Australia that I have to mention here are all from 

 the rivers. They are very nearly allied to the sorts of Dules I 

 have already described. 



