ELOPIDiE. 
7 
ing greater part of margin of 
upper jaw ; dentition powerful ; 
abdominal vertebrae without 
transverse processes ; no adi- 
pose dorsal fin ; dense regular 
squatnation Esocid^e (p. 287). 
Premaxilla completely excluding 
maxilla from margin of upper 
jaw ; dentition absent on 
inner bones except rarely on 
vomer ; abdominal vertebrae 
with transverse processes ; no 
adipose dorsal fin ; regular [(p. 289). 
squamation C ypbino no ntid.® 
Family ELOPIDJi. 
Trunk fusiform, and caudal region relatively short. Supraoccipital 
hone not prominent, but extending forwards beneath the united 
parietals or separating the latter in the median line ; squamosals 
suturally united with parietals and completely covering the otic 
bones except behind ; snout not produced ; cheok almost or com- 
pletely covered by the suborbital and circumorbitul plates. Mandi- 
bular suspensorium vertical or inclined forwards and gape moderately 
wide ; prcmaxilla small and maxilla relatively large, both entering 
the upper border of the mouth ; one or two supramaxillaries ; 
teeth acuminate, best developed on the promaxilla, maxilla, and 
dentary bones. Opercular apparatus complete, with numerous 
branchiostegal rays (20 to 30) and a gular plate. Vertebral centra 
well ossified, none with transverse processes ; ribs nearly or com- 
plotoly encircling the abdominal cavity ; haemal arches scarcely if 
at all fused at the base of the tail. Intermuscular bones present. 
l'’in-fulcra absent ; fin-rays divided and closely articulated distally ; 
dorsal and anal fins small, the former short-based and nearly 
median ; no adipose dorsal fin. Scales thin, cycloid, deeply 
imbricating. 
Synopsis of Genera. 
I. Parietal bones meeting in middle lino. 
Teeth large ; gape extending beyond 
orbit ; operculum simple Elopopsis (p. 8). 
Teeth minute and clustered ; gape 
not extending beyond orbit; 
operculum simple ; no enlarged 
scale at base of paired fins .... Osmeroides (p. 1 1} 
