696 TELEOSTEI CHAP. 



blastic Hydroid Stylactis minoi. Many of the Sebastes and their 

 allies are of large size and used as food ; some are viviparous, the 

 young being produced in great numbers and very small in size. 

 Scorpaena, Pterois, Pelor, and Synancia are dangerous for the 

 stings from their dorsal spines, which are provided with poison 

 glands. 1 



Fam. 2. Hexagrammidae. Head not cuirassed, without 

 strong spines ; basis cranii double ; a single nostril on each side. 

 Gill-membranes free from isthmus ; gills 4 ; pseudobranchiae 

 present. Vertebrae 42 to 57, most of the praecaudals with 

 transverse processes bearing the ribs and the epipleurals. Post- 

 temporal forked ; scapula and coracoid well developed, in contact 

 with each other ; pectoral rays inserted on the scapula and 

 4 anvil-shaped pterygials, 2 of which are in contact with the 

 coracoid. Ventral fins close together, more or less behind the 

 pectorals, with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. Spinous dorsal of 

 usually rather feeble raysj nearly as long as or longer than the 

 soft ; anal elongate, with or without spines. Body covered with 

 small scales. 



Carnivorous fishes, mostly of large size, from the rocky coasts 

 of the North Pacific. Some are highly valued as food. Twelve 

 species, referable to 6 genera : Hexagrammus, Pleurogrammus, 

 Agrammus, Ophiodon, Zaniolepis, Oxylebius. Hexagrammus and 

 Pleurogrammus are remarkable in having 4 or 5 lateral lines on 

 each side. 



Fam. 3. Comephoridae. Head not cuirassed, without spines ; 

 basis cranii simple ; two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes 

 free or narrowly attached to isthmus ; gills 4 ; pseudobranchiae 

 present or absent. Vertebrae 42 to 64, some or most of the 

 praecaudals with transverse processes bearing the ribs and the 

 epipleurals. Post-temporal forked ; scapula and coracoid well 

 developed, in contact with each other or separated by cartilage ; 

 pectoral rays inserted on the scapula and on 4 anvil-shaped or 

 plate-like pterygials, 2 of which are in contact with the coracoid. 

 Ventral fins, if present, close together, with 1 spine and 3 to 5 

 soft rays. Spinous dorsal of rather feeble rays, as long as or 

 shorter than the soft ; anal spines feeble or absent. Body covered 

 with small scales or naked. 



1 Cf. Bottard, Poissons Venimeux (Paris, 1889, 8vo), and Marie Sacchi, Atti 

 Soc.Liyust. vi. 1895, p. 89. 



