Fistularidæ.

Fishes of greatly elongated form; the anterior bones of the skull are much produced, and form a long tube terminating in a narrow mouth. Teeth small. Parts of the skeleton and dermal productions form external mails; scales none, or small. The spinous dorsal fin is either formed by feeble isolated spines or entirely absent; the soft dorsal and anal of moderate length; ventral fins abdominal, composed of six rays, without spine; they are separate from the pubic bones, which remain attached to the humeral arch. Branchiostegals, five; air-bladder large; four gills; pseudobranchiæ;. Pyloric appendages in small number; intestinal tract short.

Tropical parts of the Atlantic and of the Indian Oceans.

Fistularia serrata. Port Jackson.