Family VII.— MYLIOBATIDS {Mylidbatidw). 
In this family the pectorals are interrupted on the 
Family VIII.— CEPHALOPTERIDS 
( Cephaloptes'idce) . 
sides of the liead, which is more prominent than other 
In this family the proximal end of the head is straight 
members of the Raian order ; but at the proximal 
transversely, but with an ear-like appendix on each 
extremity of the disc the pectoral rays are developed 
side, curving towards the ventral aspect, and formed 
anew, constituting a kind of cephalic fin. The nasal 
by a precephalic detachment of the pectoral fin. 
lappets of each side coalesce mesiad into a quadrilateral 
Mouth in front or beneath, reaching nearly from one 
fringed flap, which reaches to the mouth. Nostrils 
of these ear-like fins to the other. Nostrils widely 
approximating to the mesial plane, where they are 
apart. Eyes lateral, situated immediately before the 
separated by a thin bridle, which has a lateral con- 
beginning of the proper pectorals, which have a 
nection with each corner of the transverse mouth. 
great lateral expansion. Spout-holes on the dorsal 
Teeth broad and flat in geometrical polygonal figures, 
aspect and rather distant from the eyes. Tail as 
forming plates which extend far back into the mouth, 
long as the body or longer, with a spine behind the 
and are bounded posteriorly in both jaws by mem- 
branous folds. Eyes separated from the spout-holes 
bj" broad bridges of integument, and situated on the 
dorsal fin. 
The genera are — Cephaloptera and Ceratoptera. 
sides of the sktdl. Tail long and whip-like, with a 
The Horned-Ray {Cephaloptera Giorna) has been 
dorsal fin at its root and a spine behind it. 
captured on the coast of Ireland. Ceralopterm of great 
The genera are — -Myliobatis; ^iohalis; Rhinoptera. 
size, exceeding twenty feet in length, have been taken 
in the West Indies; and traditions of some that were 
The Eagle-ray {Myliobatis aquila) frequents the 
seen having a still vaster spread of the pectorals are 
British seas. 
current in Barbadoes. 
Order XIII. — PROTOPTEKES [Protopteri), 
This order was named by Professor Owen from the 
to this country imbedded in the clay, and wdien placed 
embryonic condition of the vertical fins, which, like 
in a stove and well watered, have come forth in a vigor- 
those of the tadpole of a frog, are developed on the 
ous condition. The air-bladder is supposed to perform 
upper and under edges of the animal from a continuous 
the function of a lung during the time that the Protoptere 
fold of the integument, and, as in the order of Dermop- 
is secluded from the water ; and the communication of 
teres, are persistent in the Protopteres and Lepidosirens. 
the air-tube with the oesophagus is fortified by a tracheal 
Muller in allusion to the resemblance of these fishes to 
cartilage. The disposition of the gills is peculiar. In 
another tribe of Batracbians, named the order Sire- 
front there is a uniserial or half gill, but the first bran- 
noids. The characters that have been assigned to this 
chial arch is united to the second, and is not furnished 
group, are the internal skeleton in part ossified, in part 
with gills ; the gills of the second arch are biserial. 
cartilaginous ; vertebral column retaining the embry- 
long,^and thread-like ; the third arch is merely fringed 
onic form of a “ notochord,” and the dermal skeleton 
or denticulated on the edge ; the fourth arch is united 
existing in form of cycloid scales ; the pectorals and 
by membrane to the third, and has no gills ; but the 
ventrals, which are situated on the abdomen, each in 
fifth, or pharyngeal arch, supports a uniserial gill. 
form of a single tapering, flexible filament or barbel, 
There are only three passages between the gills, and 
supported internally by a soft cartilaginous ray. The 
only a portion of the blood is oxygenated, the blood in 
gills are filamentary and free ; there is no pancreas ; 
the arteries that supply the gill-less arches joining the 
the swim-bladder appears as a cellular lung with an air- 
circulation without undergoing that process. 
duct ; and tbeie is a spiral valve in the intestines. The 
Naturalists are divided in opinion as to these animals 
Protopterus annectens of the Gambia, and the Lepido- 
being fishes or reptiles. Professor Owen’s reasons for 
sirens paradoxa of the Amazon, are the representa- 
■ranking them in the first of these classes are — the gela- 
tives of the order. 
tinous condition of its notochord, the form of the trans- 
The Gambia Protoptere inhabits districts which are 
verse processes of that column, the attachment of the 
flooded by tropical rains, and leads an active piscine life 
scapulo-coracoid arch to the skull, the branchiostegous 
as long as the waters prevail ; but when the flood is 
membrane and the operculum covering the permanent 
passing off, this curious animal burrows into the mud. 
gills, the absence of a pancreas, the presence of a spiral 
which a vertical sun soon bakes into a hard crust. An 
intestinal valve, the position of the vent, the muciferous 
aperture, however, is left in this clayey cell by which 
pores on the head and lateral line, and the nasal sacs 
some air is admitted, and therein the fish, besmeared- by 
shut off from the interior of the mouth. 
a thick layer of mucus passes, the dry season, rolled up 
The Protoptere is much like an Ophidium with an 
in a torpid condition. Protopteres have been brought 
acute tadpole-like tail. 
END OF 
FISHES. 
