398 The Squamipinnes 



as in the Stromateida, or they may lose part of their rays. The 

 name Squamipinnes refers to the scaly fins, the typical species 

 having the soft rays of dorsal, anal, and caudal, and sometimes 

 of other fins densely covered with small scales. In various 

 aberrant forms these scales are absent. The name Epelasmia 

 (en i, above; eXao-j^os, plate) refers to the thin upper pharyn- 

 geals characteristic of certain forms. The transition from 

 this group to the Sclerodermi is very clear and very gradual. 

 The Squamipinnes, Sclerodermi, Ostracodermi, and Gymnodontes 

 form a continuous degenerating series. On the other hand the 

 less specialized Squamipinnes approach very closely to forms 

 already considered. The Antigoniidcs are of uncertain affinities, 

 possibly derived from such forms as Histiopteridcz, while Platax 

 show considerable resemblance to scaly-finned fishes like the 

 Kyphosida and Stromateidcu. The Scorpidida seem intermediate 

 between Stromateida and Platacida. In such offshoots from 

 Scombroidei or Percoidei the group doubtless had its origin. 



We may begin the series with some forms which are of 

 doubtful affinity and more or less intermediate between the 

 Squamipinnes and the more primitive Percomorphi. 



The Scorpididae. This family has the general appearance of 

 Platax and I larches, but the teeth are not brush-like, and the 

 post-temporal is free from the skull as in perch-like fishes. The 

 species inhabit the Pacific. S cor pis georgianus is a food-fish of 

 Australia, with the bod}'' oblong. Monodactylus argenteus, the 

 toto of Samoa, is almost orbicular in form, while Psettus sebcs is 

 twice as deep as long, the deepest-bodied of all fishes in propor- 

 tion to its length. 



The Boarfishes: Antigoniidae. The boarfishes (Antigoniida] are 

 characterized by a very deep body covered with rough scales, 

 the post-temporal, as in the Chatodontidce and the Zeidce, being 

 adnate to the skull. 



These fishes bear some resemblance to Zeus, but there is no 

 evidence of close affinity nor is it clear that they are related to 

 the Ch&todontid(B. Capros aper, the boarfish, is common in 

 southern Europe, reaching a length of less than a foot, the 

 protractile mouth suggesting that of a pig. The diamond- 

 fishes, Antigonia, are deeper than long and strongly compressed, 

 the body being covered with roughish scales. The color is 



