704 TELEOSTEI CHAP. 



B. No epipleurals. 

 Post-temporal forked, articulated to the skull ; soft dorsal and anal much 



elongate ........ 6 Trichodontidae. 



Post-temporal closely adnate to the skull ; soft dorsal and anal short (with 



only 7 to 10 rays) ...... 7. Callionymidae. 



Post-temporal simple, articulated to the skull ; soft dorsal and anal short ; 



a ventral sucker ...... 8. Gobiesocidae. 



II. Pectoral rays all attached to the pterygials, of which two or three 

 are in contact with the scapula ; ventral fins, if present, jugular or mental, 

 composed of 1 to 4 rays. 



A. Ventrals jugular or absent. 



Post-temporal distinctly forked ; praecaudal vertebrae with transverse pro- 

 cesses ; some or all of the dorsal rays spinous or not articulated ; caudal 

 fin usually distinct . . . . . .9. Bhnniidae. 



Post-temporal small and ankylosed to the skull ; praecaudal vertebrae with- 

 out well -developed transverse processes; a very short spinous dorsal; 

 caudal fin distinct . .' . . . .10. Batracliidae. 



Post-temporal distinctly forked ; praecaudal vertebrae with haemal arches ; 

 dorsal rays all spinous ; caudal fin distinct . 11. Pholididae. 



Post-temporal distinctly forked ; praecaudal vertebrae with transverse pro- 

 cesses ; dorsal rays all articulated, or a few of the posterior spinous ; no 

 distinct caudal fin . . . . . .12. Zoarcidae. 



Post-temporal forked, ankylosed to the skull ; praecaudal vertebrae with 

 transverse processes ; no spines ; no distinct caudal fin 



1 3. Congrogadidae 



B. Ventrals mental (just behind the chin) ; no spines 



14. Ophidiidae. 



III. Pectoral rays attached to an undivided cartilaginous plate represent- 

 ing the pterygials ; ventral fins jugular, reduced to a filament formed of two 

 adnate rays ; fins without spines . . . .15. Podatelidae. 



Fam. 1. Trachinidae. Second suborbital with an internal 

 lamina, supporting the globe of the eye ; mouth large, protractile. 

 Ribs and epipleurals nearly equally developed, sessile ; posterior 

 praecaudal vertebrae with short parapophyses. Gill-membranes 

 free from isthmus ; 6 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a slit behind 

 the fourth ; pseud obranchiae well developed. Scapula and cora- 

 coid well developed, a foramen between them ; pectoral rays 

 attached to the scapula and to three short and broad pterygials, 

 two of which are in contact with the coracoid. Ventral fins 

 jugular, close together, with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. Body elon- 

 gate, covered with small cycloid scales forming oblique bands. 

 A short spinous dorsal and a long soft dorsal and anal. Vertebrae 

 35-43 (10-11 + 25-32). No air-bladder. 



This family includes but one genus (Trachinus), the "Weevers, 

 with 4 species, occurring on the coasts of Europe, the Mediter- 



