PRINCIPAL FAMILIES OF FISH. 
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The Herring, the fry of which is the Whitebait, the 
Pilchard or Sardine, the Shad, Anchovy, and Sprat, 
in Europe, and the Hilsa or Indian Shad, in India, 
are examples. The last named ascends the large 
rivers hundreds of miles for breeding purposes. 
Notopteridce. 
Are queer shaped fishes, found in the fresh waters 
of the East Indies and West Africa. There are only 
five species known of this family, of which two are 
Indian. 
Gymnotidce. 
Eel-like fishes found in fresh waters in Tropical 
America. The electric eel belongs to this family. 
Symbranchidcc. 
Eel-like fish of the Tropics, the genera Amphipnous 
and Symbranchus occur in India. 
Murcenidce. Eels. 
Are found everywhere in fresh and salt water ; 
they are not, numerous, however, in India. 
Gymnodontes. 
This family have the jaws formed like a beak, in 
two, three, or four bony pieces. Some species of 
Tetradon are found in India, and are queer looking 
little fish. They have a trick when handled of in- 
flating themselves with air, till they form a complete 
ball. 
Acipenseridce. The Sturgeons. 
These fish have five rows of bony plates running 
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