KEY TO FAMILIES OF PISCES. 
77 
MM. Caiitlal peduncle stoutisli, the fin little forked. 
STR051ATEID.E, 77. 
KK. Dorsal spines (if present) all, or most of them, connected by 
membrane. 
N. Pectoral fin ■with 4 to 9 lowermost rays detached and 
filiform PoLYNEMIDiE, fiS. 
NX. Pectoral fin entire. 
O. Dorsal and anal with detached finlets. 
P. Anal j) receded by 2 free sjiines CAEANGiD.aE, 75. 
PP. Anal not preceded by 2 free spines. 
SCOMBRIDJE, 74. 
00. Dorsal and anal without finlets. 
Q. Lateral line armed posteriorly with keeled plates; 
2 free 'anal spines. 
C^ARAXGID^, 75. 
QQ. Lateral line unarmed. 
R. Throat with 2 long barbels (placed just behind 
chin) Mullid^, 95. 
ER. Throat without long barbels. 
S. Vomer with teeth. 
T. Dorsal fin continuous, without distinct 
spines. 
U. Caudal fin deeply forked; no pseudo- 
branchim . . . CoRY’PHiENiD^, 7d. 
UU. Caudal fin rounded ; pseudobrauchite 
lire.sent Icosteid^, 101. 
TT. Dorsal fin with a differentiated siiinous 
part. 
V. Gill membranes joined to the isthmus; 
no lateral line. .. Gobiid.e, 104. 
VV. Gill membranes free from the isthmus. 
W. Eyes lateral. 
X. Anal tin iireceded by 2 free spines. 
- Scales cycloid, minute. 
Carangid^, 75. 
— Scales ctenoid, moderate. 
P 0 .MATOMID.E, 76. 
XX. Anal fin not preceded by free 
spines. 
Y. Tail keeled CARAXGiDiE, 75. 
YY. Tail not keeled. 
Z. Anal spines none. 
Serr^vxid.e. 86. 
ZZ. Anal spines 1 or 2. 
Scales large, deciduous ; motith nearly vertical Apogoxid^, 89. 
* Scales smaller, adherent ; mouth nearly horizontal. 
t Anal rays more than 20 Pomatomid.e, 76. 
tt Anal rays less than 20 Percid^, 85. 
ZZZ. Anal spines 3. 
t Pseudobranchise small, glandular, covered by skin Cextrarchidj^, 84. 
tt Pseudobranchije large, exposed. 
H Front teeth incisor-like, compressed SPARiDiE, 88. 
Front teeth all pointed ; no incisors. 
$ Maxillary slij)ping uuder preorbital for its whole length. 
Pristipomatid^, 87. 
