NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN FISHES. 203 



edge; no teeth on vomer, palatines or tongue, the tongue 

 very thick. .Lower pharyngeals narrow, with bluntish 

 teeth, those on the edge larger; upper pharyngeals rather 

 large, with small, blunt velvety teeth; no distinct tooth- 

 like processes in the oesophagus ; pseudobranchiae present ; 

 gill-rakers very slender and flexible, rather short; gills 

 four, a large slit behind the fourth; gill membranes sep- 

 arate, free from the isthmus; opercle adnate to shoulder 

 girdle above its angle ; coracoids not largely developed. 

 Pectoral fin long, rounded, attached a little nearer ventral 

 than dorsal outline; ventrals wholly wanting. Dorsal fin 

 beginning above gill opening, composed entirely of simple 

 inarticulate rays or spines, these moderately flexible, 

 attached to the membrane to their tips, and all except the 

 first and last of about equal length. Caudal peduncle 

 short and stout, not contracted, the large caudal sub- 

 truncate or rounded at tip, and without procurrent rays; 

 vent nearly median. Anal much shorter than dorsal, 

 somewhat higher, and composed of soft rays, subequal 

 in length. Skeleton rather limp and flexible, but much 

 less so than in Icosteus. 



Type Zaprora silenus, n. sp. 



This genus bears some resemblance to Icichthys, but 

 differs in the stout caudal peduncle, absence of ventrals 

 and lateral line, and in the form and structure of the 

 head. Among the genera known to me it seems to come 

 • nearest to Icichthys, and it might be placed among the 

 Icostcidce, were it not for the presence of pharyngeal 

 teeth. I therefore place it provisionally in a distinct 

 family, Zafroridcc, having at present the characters of 

 the single known genus. 



1. Zaprora silenus Jordan, n. sp. Plate xx. 



Head 5§ in length to base of caudal ; depth 4 yi . D 



