145 



FISTULAPIDiE. 



" Fishes of greatly elongate form ; the anterior 

 bones of the skull are much produced, and form a 

 long tube, terminating in a narrow mouth. Teeth 

 small. Parts of the skeleton and dermal productions 

 form external mails. Scales none, or small. The 

 spinous dorsal fin is either formed by feeble isolated 

 spines, or entirely absent ; the soft dorsal and anal 

 of moderate length; ventral fins abdominal, com- 

 posed of six rays, without spine ; they are separate 

 from the pubic bones } which remain attached to 

 the humeral arch. Branchiostegals five ; air-bladder 

 large ; four gills ; pseudobranchise. Pyloric appen- 

 dages in small number 5 intestinal tract short. 



" Tropical parts of the Atlantic and of the Indian 

 Ocean." 



Fistularia Serrata inhabits Port Jackson and Northern Aus- 

 tralia, but I do not think it extends to the southern coast of 

 Australia. It is figured in " White's Voyage to New South 

 Wales," pi. 64, fig. 2. 



Order II. 



ACANTHOPTERYGII PHARTNGOGNATHI. 



"The inferior pharyngeal bones are coalesced, 

 with or without a medium longitudinal suture. Part 

 of the rays of the dorsal, anal and ventral fins not 

 articulated, forming spines. . Air-bladder without 

 pneumatic duct." 



