KEY TO FAMILIES OF PISCES. 7 ( J 



pp. Ventral rays about I, 7. 



q. Dorsal spiiies 3 or 4 ; vent anterior. 



APIIREDODERID^E, 83. 



qq. Dorsal spines about 11 ; vent normal ; scales 

 large, very rough. 



BERYCID.E, 82. 

 qqq. Dorsal spines about 10 ; vent normal ; scales 



minute ZENIDJE, 81. 



EEE. Ventral fins with or without spine ; the uumberof soft rays less than 5. 



r. Dorsal fin composed of spines only. 



s. Dorsal liu extremely high BRAMID^E, 79. 



ss. Dorsal fin low BLENNIIDJE, 112. 



rr. Dorsal fin of spines anteriorly, of soft rays pos. 



teriorly. 

 t. Pectoral fins entire. 



u. Body entirely covered with series of bony 



plates TRIGLHXE, 108. 



uu. Body not mailed. 



v. Suborbital with a bony stay. 



COTTID^E, 107. 



vv. Siiborbital without bony stay. 



BLENNIID.S:, 112. 



it. Pectoral fin divided to the base in two un- 

 equal parts TRIGLIXME, 108. 



rrr. Dorsal fin of soft rays anteriorly, of low spines 



posteriorly ZOARCHXE, 115. 



rrrr. Dorsal fin of soft rays only. 



w. Dorsal fin very short ; body mailed. 



TRIGLID^E, 108. 

 u-w. Dorsal fin very long ; body with 



small scales. 



x. Dorsal and anal joined to the cau- 

 dal ; pseudobranchia? present. 

 y. Gill membranes joined to the isth- 

 mus ZOARCID^E, 115. 



yy. Gill membranes free from the 



isthmus OpmDiiDyE, 118. 



aw. Dorsal and anal free from the cau- 

 dal or nearly so ; no pseudo- 

 branchiae. 

 z. Tail isocercal ; chin usually with 



a barbel GADID^E, 120. 



zz. Tail diphycercal, no barbel. 



BROTULOXE, 119. 

 CC. Body scaleless, smooth or armed with tubercles, prickles, or scattered bony 



plates. 

 'Breast with a sucking disk. 



A. Gill membranes free from the isthmus ; no spinous dorsal GOBiESOCHXE, 111. 



AA. Gill membranes joined to the isthmus. 



B. Skin smooth LIPARIDID^E, 109. 



BB. Skin with tubercles or spines C YCLOPTERID^E, 110. 



** Breast without sucking disk. 



C. Ventrals completely united GouinxE, 104. 



CC. Veutrals separate. 



