65 331 



B. Postclavicle and metapterygoid absent; anterior 3 vertebræ suturally 

 united, not specially elongated; vertebræ without articular processes. 

 (1—3 branchiostegal rays.) Lateral line canals absent. Lopho branchii. 



3rd Family: Solenostomidce. 



Mouth toothless; body laterally compressed, tail short. Nasal and infraorbitals 

 (preorbitals) absent. Palatine, ecto- and entopterygoid and symplectic connected 

 with ethmo-vomerine part of skull. Hyoid of normal composition; 1 branchiostegal 

 ray; branchial skeleton reduced, glossohyal and basibranchials wanting, epibranchials 

 absent or quite rudimentary, only 2nd and 3rd pharyngobranchials present, remote 

 from ceratobranchials, provided with teeth like the lower pharyngeals. Posttemporal 

 attached to skull, supraclavicle present ; scapular foramen closed below, being sur- 

 rounded by scapula and clavicle; pterygials elongated with open spaces between, 

 not fixed between dermal plates. Upper and lower spinous processes long and 

 slender. Skin with large stellate ossifications, leaving large spaces unprotected. 

 Gill-opening wide, opercular membrane free of isthmus. Two dorsal fins, anterior 

 spinous; posterior opposite to anal; tail-fin very large. Ventrals very large, with 

 7 rays, the outer spinous. Nasal organ an open pit. Appendices pyloricæ none. 



Genus: Solenostomus. 



4th Family: Syngnathidœ. 



Mouth toothless; body elongated, angular or laterally compressed, tail long. 

 Nasal absent; 2 or 3 infraorbitals (preorbitals) present. Palatine, entopterygoid 

 (sometimes also ectopterygoid) and symplectic connected with snout part of skull. 

 Hyoid only composed of 3 — 4 pieces; 1—3 branchiostegal rays; branchial skeleton 

 reduced, basibranchials being absent or reduced to 2, hypobranchials 1—2, epi- 

 branchials 3, remote from ceratobranchials or completely absent, 2nd and 3rd or 

 only 2nd pharyngobranchinl present, toothless as also lower pharyngeals. Post- 

 temporal suturally united to skull; supraclavicle absent; upper part of clavicle 

 expanded and connected firmly with transverse processes of the two foremost 

 vertebræ. Scapular foramen continued below into interspace between clavicle and 

 coracoid; pterj'gials with open interspaces, their distal parts fixed between dermal 

 scutes. In some members coraco-scapular and pterygial skeleton absent as also 

 pectoral fins. Transverse processes on vertebræ well developed, connected with 

 dermal plates; spinous processes low crests, except on the vertebræ carrying the 

 dorsal fin, the spinous processes of which are elevated and divided, each supporting 

 a group of interneurals; a secondary transverse process on the same vertebræ, 

 behind the primary one, for attachment of muscles moving the dorsal fin. Skin 

 with complete armour of dermal plates. Gill-lamellæ few on each branchial arch, 

 short and clumsy, with large transverse leaflets. Gill-opening dorsal, very small, 

 the margins of opercular membrane being largely fused to isthmus and body. One 

 dorsal fin, anal small, below dorsal, or absent; caudal fin small, in some members 



I). K. I). Vidensk. Selsk. Slu-.. 7. liiilikc, nalurviilensk. dH miitlifin. .Aid. VIII. J. 43 



