KEY TO FAMILIES OF PISCES. 
79 
pp. Ventral rays about I, 7. 
q. Dorsal spines 3 or 4; vent anterior. 
ApnREDODERID.E, 83. 
qq. Dorsal spines about 11 ; vent normal ; scales 
large, very rougb. 
Berycid^, 82. 
qqq. Dorsal spines about 10 ; vent normal ; scales 
minute Zexid.e, 81. 
EEE. Ventral fins with or without spine ; tlie number of soft nays less than 5. 
r. Dorsal lin composed of spines only. 
s. Dorsal fin extremely high Buamid.e, 79. 
ss. Dorsal fin low BLEXXiiDiE, 112. 
rr. Dorsal fin of spines anteriorly, of soft rays pos. 
teriorly. 
t. Pectoral fins entire. 
M. Body entirely covered with series of bony 
plates Triglid^e, 108. 
uu. Body not mailed. 
V, Suborbital with a bony stay. 
COTTID^, 107. 
vv. Suborbital without bony stay. 
Blenniid.®, 112. 
tt. Pectoral fin divided to the base in two un- 
equal parts TRIGLID.E, 108. 
rrr. Dorsal fin of soft rays anteriorly, of low spines 
posteriorly Zoarcid^, 115. 
rrrr. Dorsal fin of soft rays only. 
w. Dorsal fin very short ; body mailed. 
TRIGLID.E, 108. 
%vic. Dorsal fin very long ; body with 
small scales. 
X. Dorsal and anal joined to the cau- 
dal ; pseudobranchiae present. 
y. Gill membranes joined to the isth- 
• mus ZOARCIDiE, 115. 
yy. Gill membranes free from the 
isthmus Ophidiid^, 118. 
XX. Dorsal and anal free from the cau- 
dal or nearly so ; no pseudo- 
branchiae. 
z. Tail isocercal ; chin usually with 
a barhel GAWDiE, 120. 
zz. Tail diphycercal, no barbel. 
^ , , BROTULID.E, 119. 
Uody scaleless, smooth or armed with tubercles, prickles, or scattered bony 
, plates. 
Breast with a sucking disk. 
A. Gill membranes free from the isthmus ; uo spinous dorsal GoBiESOCiDiE, 111. 
AA. Gill membranes joined to the isthmus. 
B. Skin smooth Liparidid.e, 109. 
BB. Skin with tubercles or spines Cyclopteridje, 110. 
* Breast without sucking disk. 
C. Vcntrals completely united Gobiid^, 104. 
CC. Ventrals separate. 
