Eighth division : Acanth. cottO'SCombriformes''. 



Spines develoiied in one of tlie fins at least. Dorsal fins either 

 continuous or close together : the spinous dorsal, if present, always 

 short, sometimes modified into tentacles or into a suctorial disk ; soft 

 dorsal always long, if the spinous is absent" ; anal similarly de- 

 veloped as the soft dorsal, and both generally much longer than the 

 spinous'', sometimes terminating in finlets. Ventrals thoracic or 

 jugTilar, if present, never modified into an adhesive apparatus. No 

 prominent anal papilla. 



I. One dorsal fin, with several pungent spines anteriorly ; one or 



more bony spines on each side of the tail ; teeth compressed, 

 truncated or lobate, closely set in a single series. 



30. AceonueidjE, iii. p. 325. 



II. Structure of the skeleton firm ; no bony stay for the prseoper- 



culum ; teeth conical or triangular, if present. 



A. The spinous portion of the dorsal present, sometimes nidi- 



mentaiy. Body compressed, oblong or elevated. Vertebraj 

 10/14'° 17. Caeangid^, ii. p. 417. 



B. Body elevated, with two distinct divisions of the dorsal fin. 



Vertebra; 14^ 16c. Ctttina, ii. p. 354. 



C. Dorsal fin without a distinct spinous portion ; head and body 



compressed. Vertebrte ^^• 



a. Toothed processes extend into the oesophagus. 



YQcl. Steomateina, ii. p. 355. 



h. No teeth in the oesophagus. 



16 e. CoEYPHiENiNA. ii. p. 355. 



D. Two dorsal fins ; sometimes finlets ; caudal forked. Scales 



cycloid, of moderate size. Vertebrae ^^^j:^. " 



166. NoMEiNA, ii. p. 354. 



E. Two dorsal fins : either finlets, or the spinous dorsal composed 



of free spines or modified into a suctorial disk, or the ventrals 

 jugular and composed of four rays. Scales none, or very 

 small 16a. Scombeina, ii. p. 354. 



F. Body more or less elongate. A spinous dorsal or portion of 



the dorsal generally distinct, its spines being connected by a 



' The true Cottoids gradually pass into the Scombroids proper. 



8 Aspidoplioroides (ii. p. 21G). ^ Some species of Agonus (ii. J>. 211). 



10 Sometimes one or two more or less than tweuty-four. 



11 Pliitystethus appears to belong rather to the Carangida; (ii. p. 391 ). 



