ACANTHOPTERYGII. 179 



Hemiramplius (Ciiv.). Half-heah. As Belone, 

 "but the lower jaw alone is prolonged into a beak. 



H. Europseus. Fig. 277 ; n. s. 



Order IV. ACANTHOPTERYGII, 



Jaws free ; gills comb-like ; gill-covers and ori- 

 fices generally large ; first rays of the dorsal, pec- 

 torals, and anal, and generally the first ray of each 

 ventral, unjointed, inflexible, and spinous. 



Yentrals behind the pectorals : 



Jaws forming a tube Fistnlariadis. 



Lips thick, fleshy. 



One dorsal Lahridae, 



Two dorsals Mugilida. 



Ventrals before the pectorals : 



Wrist-joint of pectorals exterior Lophiadce. 

 Rays of dorsal flexible .... Gobiadce. 

 Body thin, ribbon-like .... Cepoladce. 



Ventrals generally below the pectorals :* 



Rays of dorsal always exposed . Scomhridce. 

 Rays of dorsal clothed with scales Chcetodoniidae. 

 Spinous rays of dorsal falling into 

 a groove. 

 Gill-covers unarmed .... Sparidce. 

 Gill-covers toothed. 



Head covered with bony 



plates Trigladte. 



Head not plated. 



No teeth on the palate . Scianadts. 

 Teeth on the palate . . Percadce. 



* In Gasterostetis they are behind, and in Cottus and Trachimis, 

 before the pectorals. 



n2 



