590 CLASSIFICATION OF THE MAIL-CHEEKED FISHES. 



SYNOPSIS. 



A. Myoclonic developed and cranial cavity open in front; prosethmoid and anteal* 

 normally connected by suture. Infraorbital chain with its anterior bones 

 excluded from the orbit and functional as rostrolateral, the series covering 

 the cheeks, the third a large buccal bone articulating with the anterior wall 

 of the preopereulum ; post-temporal suturally connected with the epiotic 

 and pterotic by inferior processes, and with the upper surface formiug an 

 integral part of the roof of the cranium; iutermaxillines with the ascend- 

 ing pedicles atrophied and connected with the knob of the anteal by liga- 

 ment. Postero-temporal contiguous to the proscapula Tkigloidka. 



AA. Myodome undeveloped, the cranial cavity mostly closed in front by expansions 

 from the subtectalst sutu rally connected with corresponding expansions of 

 the prootics and the parasphenoid ; prosethmoid and anteal entirely discon- 

 nected, leaving a capacious rostral chamber opening backwards mesially iuto 

 the iuterorbital region. Infraorbital chain, with its second aud third bones, 

 crowded out of the orbital margin by junction of the first and fourth, aud 

 leaving a wide interval between the suborbitals and the preoperculum ; the- 

 first very long and extending backwards, the second under the fourth and the 

 third developed as a small special bone (pontinal) bridging the interval 

 between the second suborbital aud the anteroinferior angle of the preoper- 

 culum ; post-temporal suturally connected with the posterior bones of the 

 cranium, and with the upper surface forming a large part of the roof of 

 the head; iutermaxillines with well-developed ascending pedicles gliding 

 into the cavity between the anteal aud prosethmoid. Postero-temporal dis- 

 tant from the proscapula, and manifest as an ossicle on the edge of the post- 

 temporal DACTYLOPTEROIDEA.t 



The superfamily Scorp^enoidea includes the families Scorpcenidce, 

 SyndnceidoB, Hexagrammidce (or Chiridcv),, and Anoplopomidce. The 

 Caracanthidw are generally associated with the Scorpcenidce, and may 

 belong - to the superfamily, but this is doubtful. 



The superfamily Cottoidea embraces the families Hemitripteridce 

 and Cottidce. 



The superfamily Platycephaloidea is represented by the families 

 Platycephalidce and Hoplichthyidce. Probably Bembras is the type of an 

 additional family, but I have not been able to examine its skeleton. 



The superfamily Kiiamphocottoidea is represented by one family 

 (Rhamphocottidce), with a single genus (Rhamphocottus), and species (R. 

 Richardsoiiii). 



The superfamily Agonoidea is manifested in the single family Agonidcc. 



The superfamily Cyclopteroidea has two families, Gyclopterid(v<i\\<\. 

 Liparididce. 



The superfamily Trigloidea includes the families Triglidce and 

 Peristediidce. 



The superfamily Dactylopteroidea is represented only by the 

 family "Dactylopteridce. 



•Anteal (Gill, 1888) = Vomer (anct. pi.). 



tSubteotal (Gill, 18-58) = Orbitosphenoid (Owen). 



(The synoptical tables were published in part in a preliminary note on "The Pri- 

 mary Groups of Mail-cheeked Fishes," in the American Naturalist for April, 1888 

 (issued about May 22), v. 22, pp. 35(>-358. 



