N0.136C.. OSTEOLOGY OF BERYCOID FISHES— STARKS. 619 



The intorhyal is very loiio-. The ceratOiiyal is pierced iit its middle 

 by a small long foramen. The lower pair of hypohj^als is larger than 

 the upper. Seven of the l)ranehi<)stegal rays are borne bv the cera- 

 tohyal and one ])v tlie epihyal. The urohj-al is wide and thin and 

 without longitudinal wings or ridges. 



PHARYNGEALS. 



The lower pharyngeals are not united but are in contact at the 

 median line. The first branchial arch bears the usual styliform, tooth- 

 less phar^-ngeal, but in addition the upper gill-raker is broadened and 

 toothed, and appears as a very small pharyngeal. The pharyngeal of 

 the second arch is very small. That of the third and fourth arches is 

 united into an exceedingl}' large oval patch, much wider l)ehind than 

 in front. Along the basibranchials and basal ends of the epibranchials 

 are toothed patches, similar in appearance to the surface of the lower 

 pharyngeals. 



SHOULDER GIRDLE. 



The hypocoracoid arches away from the clavicle, leaving a large 

 opening betw^een. The hypercoracoid foramen is large, and through 

 the middle of the bone. The four actinosts are in contact with each 

 other for their whole length, and all are on the hypercoracoid except 

 the lower one. The first pectoral ray works directh' on the hyper- 

 coracoid. The postclavicle is a single elongate piece. The supra- 

 clavicle is present. The posttemporal is wideh' forked. 



PELVIC GIRDLE. 



The pelvic girdle is thoracic, wide, and of complex shape, deep and 

 compressed anteriorly. The ventral spine is locked out by a powerful 

 twisting motion, bringing in close contact roughened surfaces, which 

 engage only on closing the fin. 



VERTEBRAL COLUMN AND APPENDAGES OF VERTICAL FINS. 



Abdominal vertebra 11 + caudal 11 + hypural = -US. The anterior 

 vertebra bear no ribs or intermusculars. The first pair of parapophy- 

 ses is on the seventh vertel)ra. The parapophyses grow long poste- 

 riorly and are joined in pairs, appearing almost identical with the 

 htemal spines. The slender ribs are joined to their extreme tips. 

 The pit in the atlas is small, though larger than in the other families. 

 The first intcrhiemal is scarcely enlarged. The interneural spines of 

 the spinous dorsal eipial in luunlter the neural spines under them. 

 Those of the soft dorsal slightly exceed them in number. The inter- 

 hamals exceed the hannal spines two to one. The dorsal spines have 

 oblique bases and open obliquely outward alternateh' to the right and 

 left. The spines of two vertebra anterior to the hypural assist in 

 supporting the caudal fin. 



