EL0PIDJ5. 
7 
ing greater part of margin of 
upper jaw; dentition powerful; 
abdominal vertebrae without 
transverse processes; no adi¬ 
pose dorsal fin ; dense regular 
squamation . Esocid^. (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. Cypbinodontid^ 
Family ELOPIDiE. 
Trunk fusiform, and caudal region relatively short. Supraoccipital 
bone 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; cheek almost or com¬ 
pletely covered by the suborbital and circumorbital plates. Mandi¬ 
bular suspensorium vertical or inclined forwards and gape moderately 
wide; premaxilla small and maxilla relatively large, both entering 
the upper border of the mouth; one or two supramaxillaries; 
teeth acuminate, best developed on the premaxilla, 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¬ 
pletely encircling the abdominal cavity ; haemal arches scarcely if 
at all fused at the base of the tail. Intermuscular bones present. 
Fin-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. 
Synojpsis of Genera. 
I. Parietal bones meeting in middle line. 
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. 11) 
