Second division : Acanth. beryciformes. 



Body compressed, oblong or elevated ; head with largo miiciferous 

 cavities, covered with thin skin only. Ventral fins thoracic, with 

 one spine and more than five soft rays, in Monocentris with only two. 



One family only 2. BEETciniE, i. p. 8. 



Third division : Acanth. kurtiformes. 



One dorsal fin only, much shorter than the anal, which is long. 

 No superbranchial organ. 



One fanuly only 256. Kuexidje", ii. p. 508. 



Fourth division : Acanth. polynemiformes. 



Two rather short dorsal fins, somewhat remote from each other ; 

 free filaments at the humeral arch below the pectorals ; head with 

 the muciferous system well developed (aspect scisenoid). 



One family only 13. Polthemid.s;, ii. p. 319. 



Fifth division : Acanth. scmniformes. 



The soft dorsal is more, generally much more, developed than the 

 spinous, or than the anal. No pectoral filaments; head with the 

 muciferous system well developed. 



One family only 12. Sclsnid^, ii. p. 265. 



Sixth division : Acanth. xiphiiformes. 

 The upper jaw is produced into a long cuneiform weapon. 

 One fanuly only 18. Xiphiid^e, ii. p. 511. 



Seventh division : Acanth. trichiuriformes. 



Body elongate, compressed or band-like ; cleft of the mouth wide, 

 with several strong teeth in the jaws or on the palate. The spinous 

 and soft portions of the dorsal fui and the anal are of nearly equal 

 extent, long, many-rayed, sometimes terminating in finlets : caudal 

 fin foi'ked, if present. 



One family only 15. TKiCHiTJBiD.i:, ii. p. 342. 



" Tliis family formerly formed a group of the Carangida- (Km'tiua). 



