( H ( ->N ruMurTioNs T NORTH AMT.KICAN ICHTHYOLOGY iv. 



central portion is formed merely by skin, which is separated from the 

 pclvie or pul>ic bones by several layers of muscles. The periphcric 

 portion is divided int< an anterior and posterior part bv a deep 

 noii-li behind tlie ventrals. The anterior ]>eripheric portion is farmed 

 by the ventral rays, the membrane between them and a broad fringe. 

 which extends anteriorly from one ventral to the other. This fringe 

 is a fold of the skin, containing on one side the rudimentary ventral 

 spine, but no cartilage. The posterior periplierie portion is suspended 

 on each side on the coraeoid, the upper bone of which is exceedingly 

 broad. l>eeo'iiin<i a free, movable plate behind the pectoral. The lower 

 bone of the coraeoid is of a triangular form, and supports a very 

 broad fold of the skin, extending from one side to the other, and con- 

 taining a cartilage which runs through the whole of that fold. Fine 

 processes of the cartilage are continued into the soft striated margin, in 

 which the disk terminates posteriorly. The face of the disk is coated 

 with a thick epidermis, like the sole of the foot in higher animals. The 

 epidermis is divided into many polygonal plates. There are no such 

 plates between the roots of the ventral tins." ((Jiinther, iii, p. 4 < .r>.) No 

 air-bladder; intestines short ; pylori c co-ca few or none; skeleton linn ; 

 vertebra- b'5 to 14 + 13 to L'l'. Carnivorous fishes of small sixe, chiclh 

 of the warm seas, usually living amoiit;- loose stones between tide-marks 

 and clinuin^ to them firmly by means of the adhesive disk, (.leisera 10; 

 species L'."") to .'!<>. 



'.itxiK-itlir (Mintlirr, iii, 489-f>lf>.) 



a. < ;ill-iiirinl>raiirs (Vi-c from tlii' isthmus; nills:'.: lower jaw \vitli incisor*; posterior 

 part i)!' snrkiii^-disk. wit In nit a I'ITC aiitcrioi' margin ......... ( ii >i:i I > . . \. :!',I7. 



Lai ,"'!>. Iti^t. Nat. <lcs l'nis-4. ii, .V.i.'i, l-nn : t\|n- (iliii-xn.i- ri /ilmltix l.ai-r|ii-ili'.) 



l'.od\ anteriorly very broad and depressed, posteriorly slender, cov- 

 ered \\ith ton-h. smooth skin; head lar^e, rounded in front: mouth 

 terminal, crescent-shaped; lower jaw with a series of strong incisors in 

 front; upper jaw \\ith a narrow band of teeth, those of the anterior 

 series larger: no teeth on vomer or ]>alatines; jiills .">; gill-membranes 

 broadly united under the throat, not attached to the isthmus; sucking- 

 disk lai -e. the postciior portion without ant-rior free margin. Species 

 numerous, all American; most ly t ropical. 



\:ia! tin <>l" 111 to K: ra;.s. alimil a-s Inn^' a^ ilcp|->a I. ( t 'miliin-lniK* ( Jill.) 

 /'. 1 lii'i-nrs of li>\\ <] ja vv i-nl ii-c 



. Pmr. A-al. Nat. Sci. 1'liila. 1-i'i'J. :t:;n: tvpi- /.i jiiulot/nytcr rcttriildtim Unl. 

 : . :inn-~ : i. (., anal inaiix -raynl.) 



