PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxm 



are doubtless modified Berycoids, and we leave them in association, 

 althoujjfh recognizing' no very close affinities. According to Boulenger, 

 the Pempheridte, with the Bathyclupeidffi, are near allies of the Bery- 

 coids, although having the ventral rays I, 5. Boulenger also places 

 Ap/iredoderifs among the Ber^'coid fishes with ai)parent justice. He 

 further relegates Steph'inolx'i'ij,!' and ISfdlaamircas to the Haplomi, an 

 arrangement which may be open to (juestion. 



FAMILIES OF BEKYCOIDEI. 



a. Ventral rays I, 6 to 1, 10, usually I, 7. 



h. Chin without barbels; branchiostegals mostly 8. 



c. Dorsal fin single, with 2 to 8 spines; anal spines 1 to 4. 



(/. Anal tin, with 4 spines its base, much long r than the dorsal base; sub- j 



orbitals narrow; scales firm; ventral rays mostly I, 10 Berycid.e, I. I 



dd. Anal fin I'elatively short, shorter than the dorsal; anal spines 1 or 2; ven- 

 tral rays mostly I, 6, scales various; suborbitals usually broad, 



Trachichthyid.e, II. ' 

 cc. Dorsal tin deeply notched, with 10 to 13 strong spines; anal spines 4; scales 



' firm, very rough Holocentrid.e, III. 



hh. Chin with 2 long barbels attached just behind symphysis of lower jaw; 

 branchiostegals 4; dorsal fin continuous, with 5 spines; anal spines 3 or 4; 

 scales moderate ctenoid; Vjody deep, compressed; vertebne 29, 



PoLYVIIXIID/'E, IV. 



art. Ventral rays I, 3, the spine very large; dorsal spines isolated, the anterior very 

 strong; body covered with a coat of mail formed of rough scales, 



MoNOCENTRID.E, V. 



Family I. BERYCID.E. 



. Body oblong oi' ovate, compressed, covered with ctenoid, or eycloid, 

 foliate, or granular scales. Head with large nuu-iferous cavities, cov- 

 ered b}' thin skin. Eyes lateral, usually large. Nostrils, two on 

 either side. Mouth wide, oblique. Premaxillaries protractile; max- 

 illary rather large, usually with a sup})lemental bone. Suborliitals 

 narrow, not sheathing the cheeks. Bands of villiform teeth on jaws, 

 and usually on vomer and palatines; no canines: no suborbital stay. 

 Opercular bones usually spinous. Branchiostegals 7 or S. (lill-niem- 

 branes separate, free from the istinnus. Gills 4, a slit Ix'hind the 

 fourth. Pseudobranchiffi present; lower pharyngeals separate. Gill- 

 rakers moderate. Cheeks and opercles scaly. No barbels. Dorsa! 

 fin continuous, with 2 to 8 weak spines; anal with 4 spines and many 

 soft rays, much longer than the dorsal; ventral fins thoracic, mostly 

 I, 7, the number of rays usually I, 10, always g-reater than I, 5; caudal 

 fin usually forked. Pyloric coeca nimierous. Vertebra^ 24. Fishes 

 mostly of the deep seas; the general color red or black. This group 

 is an ancient type, a great number of extinct species being" now known, 

 from the Upper Cretaceous and later rocks. The following skeletal 

 character.^ are added by Boulenger, these applying also to the Trachich- 



