MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 109 



rather small, sharp ; branchial rays eight to 

 fifteen; first dorsal behind ventral; body in 

 some semi-transparent. 



15. Family. — True-Salmons (Salmonidse). Body 

 covered with compact scales ; jaws generally 

 well furnished with teeth ; dorsal fins two, 

 first with soft rays, the second small and 

 adipose ; mostly voracious. 



] 6, Family. — Herrings (Clupeidse). Body com- 

 pressed, always covered with numerous 

 scales ; mouth mostly moderate ; lips thin ; 

 teeth minute or none ; gill-aperture large ; 

 dorsal fin single. 



37. Family. — Blind-Fishes (Amblyopsidse). Form 

 elongate; head obtuse, rounded, without 

 scales ; scales on body very small, oval, en- 

 tire, concentrically striated ; eyes as minute 

 black points covered by the skin, or none, 

 cornea none ; gills four ; pseudo -branchiae 

 none ; anus in front of pectoral fins between 

 posterior inferior terminations of opercula. 

 Viviparous. (Heteropygii, Tellkampf.) 



II. S UB-ORDER.— Apodal Soft-Finned Fishes 

 (Apodes). 



18. Family. — Electric-Eels (Gymnotidse). Body 

 linear, anguilliform, but compressed, often 

 with small scales ; ventrals none. 



In this family the most noted species is the Elec- 

 tric Eel (Gymnotus electricus) of South America. 



