ZEID^. NOTOCANTHIN.a;, 241 



serted a long filament : the plectognathiform type, 

 representing Syngnathus, Centriscus, MormyruS;, 

 GomphosiSj Aspidophorus, &c. 

 F. tabacaria Linn. Bloch, 387. fig. 1. serrata. lb. fig. 2. 



Family 2. ZEWM.* 



Body, in the typical groups, ovate or short ; the back 

 armed with spines or prickles, placed before the dorsal 

 fins, which are generally single ; jaws capable of being 

 protruded ; scales small or none ; ventral fins present. 



' 1. SuBFAM. NOTOCANTHIN^. 



Body anguilliform, much compressed ; dorsal and anal 

 fins, when present, very long, and close to the caudal ; 

 a series of detached spines before the dorsal fin ; snout 

 produced. The anguilliform or apodal type. 



NoTOCANTHUS Bl. Body with small scales ; snout obtuse, 

 projecting beyond the mouth ; jaws equal, with smaU 

 close-set teeth ; ventral fins close to the vent ; no 

 dorsal fin ; anal long, and united to a very small cau- 

 dal fin. 



N. nasus. Bl. 431. Cuv. and Val. pi. 241. 



Mastecemblus Gronov. Snout projecting and flat- 

 tened, three-cleft, cartilaginous, and inclining upwards ; 

 dorsal, caudal, and anal fins united. 



Mast, armatus. Cuv. and Val. 240. 



Macrognaihus Lac. Snout more pointed; the top three- 

 cleft, and turned downwards ; caudal fin separated. 

 Macrognathus ocellatus. Val. and Cuv. pi. 239. 



2. SuBFAM. AULOSTOMIN^. Prickle, or Sticklebacks. 



Back armed with a row of prickles ; the snout often 

 prolonged into a tube. 



* I am at a loss to determine the distinguishing character of this family, 

 although I believe it to be, essentially, a most natural one : the gradation 

 between the Zeince and the Centronotince is so perfect, that they cannot, I 

 think, be placed in separate families, although the latter has the strongest 

 affinity to the Scomberidce. 



VOL. II. R 



