234 



Phthinobranchii 



the extinct family Urosphenida, scaleless, but otherwise similar. 

 Urosphen dubia occurs in the Eocene at Monte Bolca. Urosphen 



FIG. 184. Trumpet-fish, Aulostomus chinensis (L.) Virginia. 



is perhaps the most primitive genus of the whole suborder of 

 Hemibranchii. 



The Snipefishes: Macrorhamphosidae. Very remarkable fishes 

 are the snipefishes, or Macrorhamphosidce. In these forms 



FIG. 185. Japanese Snipefish, Macrorhamphosus sagifue Jordan & Starks. 



Misaki, Japan. 



the snout is still tubular, with the short jaws at the end. The 

 body is short and deep, partly covered with bony plates. The 

 dorsal has a very long serrated spine, besides several shorter 

 ones, and the ventral fins have one spine and five rays. 



The snipefish, or woodcock-fish, Macrorhamphosus scolopax, 

 is rather common on the coasts of Europe, and a very similar 

 species (M. sagifue} occurs in Japan. The Rhamphosida, re- 

 presented by Rhamphosus, an extinct genus with the ventrals 

 further forward, are found in the Eocene rocks of Monte 

 Bolca. Rhamphosus vastrum has minute scales, short dorsal, 

 and the snout greatly attenuate. 



The Shrimp-fishes: Centriscidae. One of the most extraor- 

 dinary types of fishes is the small family of Centriscida, found 

 in the East Indies. The back is covered by a transparent 

 bony cuirass which extends far beyond the short tail, on which 

 the two dorsal fins are crowded. Anteriorly this cuirass is 



