CHAP. XX.] 
FISHES. 
449 
Family 69. — GYMNARCHIDiE. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) 
“Fresh-water fishes, resembling the Mormyridte, but with 
tapering finless tail, and neither anal nor ventral fins.” 
Distribution. — Ethiopian region . 
The only genus, Gymnarehus, inhabits the Nile and the rivers 
of West Africa. 
Family 70. — ESOCIDiE. (1 Genus, 7 Species.) 
“ Fresh-water fishes, with scaly bodies, no barbels, and dorsal 
fins situated towards the tail." 
Distribution.- — The Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. 
One species, the Pike (Esox lucius ) ranges from Lapland to 
Turkey, and in America from the Arctic regions to the Albany 
river ; the remainder are American species extending South as 
far as New Orleans. 
Family 71. — UMBRIDiE. (1 Genus, 2 Species.) 
“ Small fresh-water scaly fishes, without barbels or adipose fin.” 
Distribution. — Central Europe and Temperate North America. 
Family 72.— SCOMBRESOCIDiE. (5 Genera, 136 Species.) 
“ Marine or fresh-water fishes, with scaly bodies and a series 
of keeled scales along each side of the belly.” 
Distribution. — Temperate and tropical regions. 
All the genera have a wide distribution. A species of Belone 
and one of Scomb'esox are found on the British coast. The Flying 
fishes ( Exocetvs , 44 sp.), belong to this family. They abound 
in all tropical seas and extend as far as the Mediterranean and 
Australia. None of the genera are exclusively fresh-water, 
VOL. II. G G 
