The scales of the mormyrid fishes with remarks on Albula and Elops

These fishes all have scales of the same general type; cycloid with well-developed circuli and with strong basal radii. The truly remarkable feature is found in the apical radii, which are greatly modified and join irregularly, forming a network. The apex of the scale is usually broad and blunt, or even subtruncate, while the base is more pointed and narrower. Thus it is seen that, although there are good specific characters, the scales are in general of the same type, and are, so far as I know, very distinct from those of any other fishes. Gymnarchus, according to the scales, goes with the Mormyridæ.