ii6 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE ^lUSEUM. 



insertion of dorsal and reaching y^ to anal. Color transparent 

 greenish above, sides silvery. Back, dorsal and caudal dusted 

 with pale dusky. Iris silvery. Length 5^ inches. Raritan 

 River. 



This excellent food-fish is found along our coast and sometimes 

 enters the larger rivers. I have it from the Delaware. It attains 

 the length of a foot. 



Osmcrus inordax Abbott, Geol. X. J., 1868, p. 821. — Abbott, 

 Am. Nat., IV, 1870, p. 108, fig. 30. — Abbott, Xat. Rambles, 

 1885, p. 478. 



Osnierus viridescens De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fish., Ill, 1842,. 



P- 243- 



Osmerns sp. Norris, Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci., Phila., 1861, p. 58. 

 Osmerus sergenti X^orris, 1. c, 1868, p. 93. 



Family SYNODONTID^. 



The Lizard Fishes. 



Body oblong or elongate, little compressed. Sides sometimes 

 with phosphorescent spots or photophores. Mouth very wide, 

 entire margin of upper jaw formed by long slender premaxillaries, 

 closely adherent to which are slender maxillaries, latter mostly 

 rudimental or obsolete and never widened at tip. Teeth mostly 

 cardiform on both jaws, tongue and palatines. Canines rarely 

 present. Large teeth usually depressible. X^o barbels. Oper- 

 cular bones usually thin, but complete. Gill-membranes separate, 

 free from isthmus. Gill-rakers tubercular or osbolete. Pseudo- 

 branchise present. Branchiostegals usually numerous. Bod}^ 

 covered with cycloid scales, rarely naked. Lateral line present. 

 Skeleton rather well ossified. Air-vessel small or wanting. In- 

 testinal canal short. Eggs inclosed in sacs of ovary and ex- 

 truded through an oviduct. Dorsal fin short, of soft rays only. 

 Adipose fin present, rarely obsolete. Anal moderate or long. 

 Caudal forked. Pectorals and ventrals present. 



Mostly shore-fishes, some in great depths and with unknown 

 habits. Not used as food. One genus and species on our shore.. 



