1888.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 577 



elongate, not articulated to the cranium ; inferior pharyngeals sepa- 

 rated ; dorsal fin with strong spines." 



To this group was referred a section (with the genera Pterois, Syrian- 

 ceia, Scorpcena, Pelor (tube rudiniental), Peristedion). 



DAKESTE. 



In 1872, Mr. Cainille Dareste published the result of osteological 

 studies on the bony fishes.* In regard to the fishes with mailed cheeks, 

 he recognized that there was much diversity among the constituents 

 of the Cuvieriau family, and concluded to defer the expression of an 

 opinion on the several types until he could make further studies. He 

 considered that the extension of the suborbitals over the cheeks was 

 an entirely artificial character and unconnected with the variations in 

 the relations of the cranial bones, and that the osteology is much more 

 diversified in the fishes associated under that family than in other 

 groups ; he especially instanced the Triglids and Dactylopterids as two 

 groups which exhibit great diversities, although he considered them to 

 be closely related. 



It is quite true that the mere extension of the suborbital bones over 

 the cheeks would be of comparatively slight value, and a combination 

 of fishes on that ground alone would be purely artificial; but it is an 

 instance rather of the genius of Cuvier that he wisely limited and 

 checked his conclusions. It is not merely the expansion of the sub- 

 orbitals, but the development of a specific suborbital in a special way 

 that distinguishes the true mail-cheeked fishes of the normal types, 

 such as the Scorpwnidw and Cottidce. The other groups that have been 

 associated with them, differing in the extent of the suborbital bones, 

 are associated because they possess other characters in common with 

 the least abnormal mail-cheeked fishes. As to the Triglids aud Dacty- 

 lopterids, it is now certain that they are not as closely related as has been 

 supposed, but that the structural characters distinguishing them are of 

 great importance and necessitate their wide separation. But at the 

 same time it must be admitted that they should be approximated, al- 

 though simply because there is no closer relation to any other form 

 thau the Triglidce on the part of the Dactylopteridcv. 



Mr. Dareste's words are as follows: 



La t'amille ties Poissons a Jones cuirassees prdsente une telle variete" de formes 

 craniennes, meme dans les genres les pins voisius, qu'il m'a 6t6 impossible jusqu'a 

 present de savoir s'ils appartieuuent a im rneme type, ou s'ilsse rattachent a plusieura 

 types differeuts. Je dois done reserver coiupletement pour un autre travail lo groune 

 meat de ces animanx ; Je me coutenterai de faire remarquer d'abord que le caractere 

 desjoues cuirassees, e'est-a-dire de l'exteusiou des sous-orbitaires sur les ailes palatine 

 ettemj)orale,est un caractere purement artificiel, puisqu'il se rencontre dans des genres 



* Dareste (C). Etudes sur les osteologiques des poissons osseux. <Comptes ren- 

 dus Acad. Sc. (Paris), t. 75, pp. 942-946, 1018-1021, 1086-1089, 1172-1175, 1253-1256, 

 1972. 



Proc. N. M. 88 37 S^ft ^i 1 *^ ' 



