124 University of Washington Publications in Biology [Vol. 2 



69b. Tail tapering to a point, the dorsal and anal fins 

 confluent, there being no caudal fin. 

 Grenadiers 38. Coryphaenoididae, p. 154 



68b. Dorsal spines III. 



45. Melamphaidae, p. 159 



66b. Pelvics with fewer than 5 soft rays, and with or with- 

 out a spine. 



70a. Body covered with bony plates. 



Sea Poachers 70. Agonidae, p. 182 



70b. Body not covered with bony plates ; the body either 

 naked or covered with scales. 



71a. Dorsal composed of soft rays only. 



72a. Body tapering to a blunt point behind ; dorsal 

 and anal continuous around the caudal ; gill mem- 

 branes joined to isthmus. 

 Eel Pouts 84. Zoarcidae, p. 195 



72b. Body not tapering to a blunt point ; the caudal 

 fin distinct. 

 Brotulids 85. Brotulidae, p. 197 



71b. Dorsal composed of spines anteriorly with or with- 

 out soft rays posteriorly. 



73a. Dorsal fin with at least 1 soft ray but less than 

 20, usually 5 to 13 in local species ; vertebrae 

 52 or fewer ; lateral line arched high above 

 the pectoral, if present. 

 Blennies 78. Clinidae, p. 192 



73b. Dorsal fin without soft rays (except in Ccbi- 

 dichthys which has 40 to 44) ; vertebrae usual- 

 ly more than 53. 



74a. Origin of anal fin under the 34th to 55th 

 spinous ray of dorsal fin; body ribbon-like 

 and never with multiple branched lateral 

 lines ; all vertebrae with haemal arches. 

 Blennies 79. Pholididae, p. 192 



74b. Origin of anal fin under the 12th to 32nd 

 spinous ray of the dorsal fin; body round 

 and not ribbon-like except in Phytichihys 

 which has multiple branched lateral lines and 

 II (rarely III) anal spines; only the caudal 

 vertebrae with haemal arches. 

 Blennies 80. Stichaeidae, p. 192 



54b. Body naked and smooth, or armed with tubercles, prickles, 

 scattered bony plates, or scales in rows between which are 

 naked areas, never uniformly covered with scales. 



75a. Breast with a sucking disk. Fig. 17. 



76a. Gill membranes free from isthmus ; a single soft dorsal 

 placed posteriorly. 

 Cling-fishes 87. Gobiesocidae, p. 197 



