CARAXGIDJi. 
430 
margin of jaws. Pectoral fins well developed ; pelvic fins minute, 
except foremost articulated ray, which is thickened and greatly 
elongated; dorsal fin extending along the greater part of the back, 
with few feeble anterior spines, acuminate in front but otherwise 
low and fringe-like ; anal fin at least as much extended as the 
dorsal, without spines, but the rays very short and expanded ; caudal 
fin widely expanded, truncated or slightly excavated behind. Scales 
absent. 
The only known existing species occurs in the seas of the East 
Indies. The generic identity of the so-called Gasteronemus with 
Mene was pointed out by J. Muller, Zeitschr. deutsch. geol. Ges. 
vol, ii. (1850), p. 66. The relationship of the type species was 
also observed by de Blainville, jS'ouv. Diet. d’Hist. IS’at. vol. xx\ii. 
(1818), p. 356. 
Mene rhombeus (Volta). 
[Text-figure 14.] 
1796. Scomber rhombeus^ G. S. Volta, Ittiolit. Veronese, p. Ixxxiv. 
pi. xviii. 
1818. Zeus rhombeus, II. D. de Blainville, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. 
vol. xxvii. p. 356. 
1833. Gasteronemus rhombeus, L. Agassiz, Poiss. Foss. vol. v. pt. i. 
p. :20, pi. ii. 
Type. Nearly complete fish; Palaeontological Museum, Munich. 
The type species of the so-called genus Gasteronemus, attaining a 
length of about 0-25. Head with opercular apparatus occupying 
slightly more than one third of the total length to the base of the 
caudal fin; dorsal border of trunk gently arched, ventral border 
sharply bent at the insertion of the pelvic fins; maximum depth of 
trunk exceeding its length from the pectoral arch to the base of the 
caudal fin. Length of enlarged pelvic fin-ray at least equalling the 
total length of the fish ; dorsal fin with about 3 feeble anterior spines 
atid 40 articulated rays; anal fin with 30 articulated, expanded 
rays ; caudal fin scarcely forked. 
Form. Loc. Upper Eocene : Monte Bolca, near Verona. 
44S68. Large specimen, in counterpart, displaying the maxilla and 
J premaxilla. Presented by Benjamin Bright, Esq., 1873. 
P. 2086, P. 4479. Fine specimen 0-2 in length, in counterpart. 
Egerton Sf EnnisTcillen Colls. 
'^19844 a. Well-preserved specimen 0*18 in length, with enlarged 
pelvic fin-rays also O’18 in length. The rudimentary pelvic 
fin-rays and spine are distinguishable. Purchased, 1846. 
