VIU 



sometimes the whole composed of spines only ; anal more or less 

 long ; caudal sub truncated or rounded, if present ; ventrals thoracic or 

 jugular, if present. 



I. Body band-like ; no bony stay for the prseoperculum ; ventrals 



thoracic, 1/5 41. CEPOLiDiE, iii. p. 486. 



II. Ventrals jugular, 1/5 40. Teichonotid^, iii. p. 484. 



III. A bony stay for the angle of the prseoperculum, the bone arising 

 from the infraorbital ring . .10 «. Heteeolepidina, ii. p.. 88. 



IV. Ventrals jugular", composed of a few rays, if present ; a pro- 

 minent anal papiUa ; anal spines none, or in very small 

 number 24. Blenniid^, iii. p. 206. 



V. Anal spines numerous 25. Acanthoclinid^, iii. p. 297. 



VI. Ventrals none ; no prominent anal papilla ; body eel-like ; nu- 

 merous free dorsal spines . . 46. Mastacembelid^, iii. p. 339. 



Eleventh division : Acanth. mugiliformes. 



Two dorsal fins more or less remote from each other ; the anterior 

 either short, like the posterior, or composed of feeble spines ; ventral 

 fins well developed, 1/5, abdominal. 



I. Dentition strong ; vertebrae 24. 



14. Sphte^nii)^, ii. p. 334. 



II. Vertebras j^ ; dentition feeble or of moderate strength. 



37. Atherinid^, iii. p. 391. 



III. Dentition feeble ; vertebrae 24. 



38. MuGiLiD^, iii. p. 409. 



Twelfth division : Acanth. g aster osteiformes. 



The spinous dorsal is composed of isolated spines, if present ; the 

 ventrals have an abdominal position in consequence of the prolonga- 

 tion of the pubic bones, which are attached to the humeral arch. 



I. Ventral joined to the pubic bone, with a spine and with a few 



rudimentary rays 1. Gasteeosteid^, i, p. 1. 



II. Ventral remote from the pubic bone, with six soft rays. 



45. FisTULARiDiE, iii. p. 529. 



'5 Pseudobleiuiius (iii. p. 2'J7) ; ? Aiidainia (iii. p. 294). 



