8. CERATIAS. 205 



branch is fixed to the superior end of the subopercular plate, the 

 lower to its inferior. Glosso- and uro-hyals absent ; branchiostegals 

 five, very long and filiform ; the outer one is divided into two 

 branches, and may easily be taken for two. 



The structure of the humeral arch and of the pubic bones is 

 entirely the same as in Maltlie. 



There are seventeen vertebra, seven of which belong to the abdo- 

 minal portion, and are much more elongate than those of the caudal 

 portion, except the last, which is the longest, and provided with a 

 prominent triangidar lateral crest. The neural spines of the abdo- 

 minal vertebra; are confluent into a crest ; the neurals and heemals 

 of the caudal vertebra; are short, compressed, inclining backwards. 

 Ribs none. 



lines. 



Length of the first vertebra 1| 



of the second vertebra 2^ 



of the fourth vertebra 3 



of the sixth vertebra 2i 



of the seventh vertebra 1-| 



of the tAvelfth vertebra 1^ 



of the sixteenth vertebra Ig 



of the seventeenth vertebra 4| 



of the abdominal portion 16| 



of the caudal portion 17 



8. CERATIAS. 



Ceratias, Eroyer, Naturhist. Tidsh: 1844, i. p. 639. 



Head and body much compressed and elevated ; cleft of the mouth 

 rather wide, subvertical. Teeth of the jaws of moderate size, conical, 

 moveable ; palate toothless. Skin covered with numerous prickles. 

 The spinous dorsal fin is reduced to two long isolated spines, the one 

 on the middle of the head, the other on the back. The soft dorsal 

 and anal short. Ventrals none ; pectorals very short. Gill-opening 

 rather wide, below the pectoral ; branchiostegals six ; thi-ee gills, 

 the third united with the pharynx ; au'-bladder none. Pyloric ap- 

 pendages two, small. Skeleton soft, fibrous. 



Coast of Greenland. 



1. Ceratias holbolli. 



Kroyer, I. c. ; Gaimard, Toy. Scand. Poiss. pi. 9. 



D. 1 I 1 I 4. A. 4. C. 8. P. 19. 



Entirely black. Caudal fin very long, lanceolate ; the membrane 

 behind the dorsal and anal fins extends nearly to the base of the 

 caudal. 



Coast of Greenland. 



