366 
ICTINOPTEKYGII. 
Genus SPHYR^NA (Artedi), Bloch & Schneider. 
[Syst. Ichthyol. 1801, p. 109.] 
A widely-spaced series of large conical teeth, more or less 
laterally compressed, on part at least of the dentary and premaxilla, 
with an outer regular close series of comparatively minute teeth; 
large teeth also on the palatines, but no teeth on the vomer. 
Cranial roof flattened, the small occipital crest not rising above the 
level of the frontal plane, and the anterior end of the ethmoidal 
region contracting to a point. Seven branchiostegal rays. Pelvic 
flns more or less directly opposed to the anterior dorsal, which 
consists of flve spines ; caudal fin forked. Scales small and smooth, 
not crenulated or serrated, continued to a varying degree over the 
head and opercular apparatus. Lateral line distinct. 
A figure of the skeleton is published by Agassiz, Poiss. Foss, 
vol. V. pi. F. 
Sphyrsena bolcensis, Agassiz. 
1796. Esox sphyrtxna, G. S. Volta, Ittiolit. Veronese, p. cvii. pi. xxiv. 
fig. 1 (errore), 
1796. Perea punctata, G. S. Volta, ibid. p. ccviii. pi. li. fig. 1 {errore). 
1796. Esox lucius, G. S. Volta, ibid. p. ccliii. pi. Ixii {errore). 
1818. E.sox spret, H. D. de Blainville, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. 
vol. xxvii. p. 341 {errore'). 
1835. Sphyreena bolcensis, L. Agassiz, Neues Jahrb. pp. 292, 294, 305. 
1835. Sphyreena gracilis, L. Agassiz, ibid. p. 305. 
1835. Sphyreena maxima, L. Agassiz, ibid. p. 305. 
1843-44. Sphyreena bolcensis, L. Agassiz, Poiss. Foss. vol. v. pt. i. 
p. 95, pi. X. fig. 2. 
1843-44. Sphyreena gracilis, L. Agassiz, ibid. p. 96, pi. x. fig. 1. 
[Imperfect distorted fish ; Palaeontological Museum, Munich.] 
1844. Sphyreena maxima, L. Agassiz, ibid. p. 97. [Name only, pro¬ 
posed for fish named Esox lucius by Volta.] 
1876. Sphyreena bolcensis, F. Bassani, Atti Soc. Veneto-Trent. Sci. Nat. 
vol. iii. p. 185. 
Type. Imperfect fish; Palaeontological Museum, Munich. 
A species attaining a length of nearly one metre, but usually 
smaller. Length of head with opercular apparatus equalling about 
half that of the trunk from the pectoral arch to the base of the 
caudal fin; maximum depth of trunk contained nine or ten times in 
the total length of the fish. Space between the pectoral and pelvic 
fins about one fourth of that between the latter and the anal; 
anterior dorsal fin with five nearly equal slender spinous rays, arising 
immediately behind a point opposite the pelvic pair, and the space 
