200 TRlGLlDiE. 



the third is the largest, subquaclrangular, and situated between the 

 second, the pnefrontal, the upper series of infraorbitals, and the prae- 

 operculum. None of these bones have any spines or ridges. The 

 praeoperculum and operculum form one continuous plane mth the 

 bones cuirassing the cheek. The former has a very slight ridge 

 across the angle, which is provided with two obtuse points ; it is 

 obliquely situated, and its lower limb is reduced almost to nothing. 

 The operculum has no distinct ridge, but two spines, separated from 

 each other by a crescent- shaped notch ; the sub- and interoperculum 

 are narrow and smooth. 



The turl)inal bones are large, triangular, touching each other in 

 front of the ethmoid. The upper surface of the ethmoid is quite 

 free, rhombic, twice as long as broad, and not extending between 

 the orbits. The prajfrontals are large, subrhomboidal, touching each 

 other behind the ethmoid ; their orbital margin is provided with 

 some obtuse points. The principal frontal bones do not extend an- 

 teriorly beyond the interorbital space, which is rather concave, and 

 the width of which is miich less than the length of the vertical dia- 

 meter of the orbit. The crown of the skull is quite flat, nearly twice 

 as broad as long ; the sutiuTs have entirely disappeared. The basal 

 portion of the brain-capsule is rather compressed ; the basisphenoid 

 is narrow, with a small foramen behind the occipital joint. 



The siiprascapula is fii-mly joined to the occipital, and terminates 

 in a short spine. The scapula is oblong, broader interiorly. The 

 coracoid is nearly straight, with two short processes for its junction 

 with the scapula, and with a powerful, flat, triangular spine imme- 

 diately behind these processes. The three free pectoral appendages 

 articulate with the two lower bones of the carpus. Each pubic bone 

 has two Hmbs : the anterior is formed by three lamellie, the interior 

 and inferior of which are the broadest ; the anterior limbs of both 

 bones converge towards the symphysis of the coracoids, leaving a 

 wide free space between them : the posterior limb, with its fellow, 

 forms a regidar triangular plate, emitting anteriorly a very long and 

 slender process, which reaches nearly to the symphysis of the cora- 

 coids. The whole structure of the pelvis constitutes a very solid base 

 for the muscular apparatus of the ventral fins. 



There are fifteen abdominal aad twenty-two caudal vertebrcp, the 

 length of the former portion of the vertebral column being to that of 

 the latter as 1 : 1-75. The anterior vertebrse are rather compressed 

 in their longitudinal diameter. Each interneural spine has a longi- 

 tudinal and a transverse ridge ; superiorly it widens into two bony 

 wings, which together form the exterior cuirass, in which the dorsal 

 fins move. 



2. Trigla lineata. 



Mullus imberbis, RomM. x. c. 5. p. 295 ; Gesner, iv. p. 567 ; Aldrov. ii. 



c. 2. p. 131; WiUughby, iv. c. 7. p. 278. tab. S. 1. f. Ij Ray, Syn. p. 87. 

 Cucvdus lineatus, Ray, Syn. p. 165. tab. 2. f. 11. 

 Trigla lineata, L. Gm. i. p. 1345 ; Bl. taf. 354 ; Bl. Schn. p. 13 ; Cnv. 



Sf Vul. iv. p. 34 ; Bonnp. Faun. lUd. Pesri : YarrcU, Brit. Fishes, i. 



p. 45 ; Guichen. Ea-plor. Alyer. Poiss. p. 38. 



