142 
ICHTHYOLOGY 
BELONE GAVIALOIDBS. 
Belongs to the division characterised by " anterior dorsal 
rays forming a lobe ; no lateral edge to the tail ; middle and 
posterior rays short." 
Head three times and a-half in the length without the 
caudal ; the snout much longer than the other part of the 
head ; it has a longitudinal sulcate on its upper surface ; teeth 
very fine and very numerous, with a line of large conical ones 
on each side of both jaws ; these are placed far apart one from 
the other, but on the back part of the mouth they are smaller 
and near one another ; no vomerine teeth ; tongue smooth ; 
upper part of the head flat and impressed with two large 
radiated impressions. The diameter of the eye is contained 
twice in the interocular space. The upper surface of the head 
is smooth, but an elongated space in front of the eyes is 
covered with small scales. 
Body rather compressed ; its height is less than the length 
of the pectorals ; dorsal with twenty-two rays ; anal with 
twenty-three ; caudal strongly emarginated, the lower lobe 
longer than the other ; the pectorals with twelve rays ; scales 
small. 
The colour, after preservation in spirits, is of a dark 
brown, with the lower parts silvery; the snout black ; the fins 
yellow. 
The following measurements were taken on the smallest of 
my specimens : — 
] 
INCHES. 
34 
10* 
H 
1 
H 
Distance from the end of snout to the anterior 
26J 
8 
From the base of the ventrals to the pectorals 
7 
