64 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 124 



basis of Freihofer's data, has assigned the Zoarcidae to the order 

 Gadiformes of the superorder Paracanthopterygii. Since, however, 

 in other respects the Zoarcidae are very similar to the Bathymaster- 

 idae, with a typical percoid accessorius nerve pattern, I prefer to view 

 the peculiar accessorius configuration in the Zoarcidae as a speciali- 

 zation within that group (as in the Brotulidae and Ophidiidae; see 

 p. 24) rather than as an indication of relationship with the codfishes. 

 Table 3 will serve as a summary of the classification of the suborder 

 Blennioidei adopted here. 



Summary 



The higher classification of the Order Perciformes adopted here can 

 be summarized in synoptic form as follows. 



To attempt a definition of this order that would exclude the Beryci- 

 formes and Zeiformes on the one hand and the various orders pre- 

 sumably derived from the Perciformes on the other is almost impossible 

 (see Norman, 1957, pp. 58, 59) ; in any event, it would require more 

 detail than seems warranted here. 



Suborder Percoidei. — (For reasons dealt with at the beginning of 

 this paper, the Percoidei can be defined only in terms of central perci- 

 form tendencies, or negatively by lacking the combination of pecu- 

 liarities that characterize the other perciform suborders.) Pelvic 

 bones extending between and attached by a direct articulation to the 

 cleithra; pelvic fins usually inserted about below the pectoral bases, 

 normally with a spine and five, but sometimes fewer, soft rays, rarely 

 altogether absent; dorsal and anal soft rays generally somewhat more 

 numerous than the vertebrae between them. Basal counts in the Per- 

 coidei (and Perciformes) are as follows: vertebrae 24 or 25, fre- 

 quently more, rarely fewer; anal spines three, predorsal bones three, 

 and branched caudal rays 15, all frequently fewer, rarely more; and 

 branchiostegal rays six, ranging from four to nine. (Compiled.) 



Superfamilies (mainly following Regan, 1913, and Norman, 1957, 

 but modified from the preceding account) : Percoidae, Cirrhitoidae, 

 Embiotocoidae, Pomacentroidae, Labroidae, Trichodontoidae, Ara- 

 modytoidae, Champsodontoidae, and Chiasmodontoidae. 



Suborder Mugiloidei. — Pelvic bones without a cleithral articula- 

 tion. (1) The pectoral fins are divided into two separate parts (Poly- 

 nemoidar) ; or (2) the pelvic fins have been modified into a specialized 

 clasping organ in the males (Phallostethoidae) ; or (3) the spinous 

 dorsal is represented by a short fin well separated from the soft portion. 

 (Compiled.) 



Superfamilies (following Myers, 1935): Polynemoidae, Mugiloidae, 

 and Phallostethoidae. 



