1888.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 589 



seen tbat most of the characters used have not before been employed 

 in the taxonomy of tbe group, and that some are specially uotewortby, 

 inasmuch as they militate against tbe conceptions of uniformity within 

 the order even to which the group belongs. 



I, ACANTHOPTERYGrll BUCCIS LORICATIS. 



Acanthopterygians with the scapular arch normal, the post-temporal 1 

 and postero temporal 2 forming part, and the latter intervening between 

 the post-temporal and the proscapnla. 3 Infraorbital chain with all 

 bones entering into tbe orbital margin and functional, only partially 

 extended over the cheek; with the third bone hypertrophied and de- 

 veloped as a stay impinging on the anterior wall of the preoperculum; 

 post-temporal variously connected with the epiotic and pterotic; inter- 

 maxillines 4 with well-developed ascending pedicles gliding over the 

 front of the prosethmoid. 5 



SYNOPSIS. 



A. Myodome 11 more or less developed. 

 B. Post-teinporal bifurcate aud connected with the cranium by its processes in 

 normal manner. 

 C. Body and head compressed or moderately depressed. 

 D. Actiuosts 7 moderate and iuserted ou posterior edges of hypercoracoid 8 and 

 hypocoracoid; 9 ribs, typically, borne on enlarged parapopbyses 



SCOKP^ENOIDEA. 



DD. Actiuosts large and partly intervening between the hypercoracoid aud 



hypocoracoid ; ribs sessile on the vertebras Cottoidea. 



CC. Body and head much depressed Platycepiialoidea. 



BB. Post-temporal expanded and connected with the crauium by exteusive suture, 

 c. Anus submedian ; ventrals subabdoininal; exoskeleton developed as spini- 



form prickles Rhamphocottoidea. 



cc. Anus thoracic ; ventrals subbrachial ; exoskeleton developed as plates 



arranged in about 8 longitudinal rows.... Agonoidea. 



AA. Myodome completely wanting Cyclopteroidea. 



II. Craniomi. 



Teleocephali with the scapular arch abnormal, the post temporal form- 

 ing an integral part of the cranium aud the postero-temporal crowded 

 out of place by the side of the proscapula above or at the edge of the 

 post-temporal. 



1 Post-temporal (Parker) = Suprascapula (Cuv.). 



2 Postero temporal (Gill, 1872) = Scapula (Cuv.). 



3 Proscapula (Gill, 1872) = Humeral (Cuv. ) = Coracoid (Owen.) 



4 Intermaxillines (Gill, 1888) = Iutermaxillaries (auct. pi.). 



6 Prosethmoid (Gill, 1888) = Ethmoid (auct. pi.). 



6 Myodome (Gill, 1888) = Muscular tube for ocular muscles. 



'Actiuosts (Gill, 1872) = Carpals (auct. vet.) = Brachials (Parker). 



8 Hypercoracoid (Gill, 1872)= Radial (Cuv.) = Scapula (Parker). 



9 Hypocoracoid (Gill, 1872) = Cubital (Cuv.) = Coracoid (Parker). 



