208 SCLERODEKMI. 



Synopsis of the Groups and Ocnera. 

 First Group. Triacanthina. 



Skin covered with small, rough, scale-Wee scutes. A spinous dorsal 

 fin, with from four to six spines. A pair of strong moveable 

 ventral spines, joined to the pelvic bone. 



Teeth small, conical, in a double series 1. Triacnnthodes, p. 208. 



Teeth small, conical, in a siug'le series 2. Hollardia, p. 209. 



Teeth in the outer series incisor-like 3. Triacanthm, p. 209. 



Second Group. Balistina. 

 Body compressed, covered ivith moveable scutes, or rough. Spinoiis 

 dorsal reduced to one, two, or three splines. Venfrcd reduced to a 

 single pelvic prominence, or entirely absent. 



Three dorsal spines 4. Balistes, p. 211. 



One (two) dorsal spine ; no barbel 5. Monacanthus, p. 220. 



A barbel 6. Anacanthus, p. 255. 



Third Group. Ostraciontina. 



The integuments of the body are modified into a firm carapace, formed 

 of juxtaposed scutes. Spinous dorsal and ventral fins absent, 

 sometimes indicated by protuberances. 



Teeth small and slender, in a single series .... 7. Ostrncion, p. 255. 



First Group. TRIACANTHINA. 



This group approaches most closely to the fishes of the more 

 highly developed orders ; and therefore we have placed it at the 

 head of the Plectognaths. 



1. TRIACANTHODES. 



Triacanthodes, Bleek. Act. Sac. Sc. Indo-Necrl. iii. Japan, \\. p. 37. 

 Body compressed, with short tail, covered with small spiny scales. 

 Teeth small, conical, closely set, in a double series, about fourteen in 

 the upper and twenty-two in the lower jaw. There is a pair of 

 small teeth in the inner series. Anterior dorsal fin formed by from 

 four to six strong spines. Ventral fins formed by a pair- of strong 

 spines joined to the pelvic bone. 

 Japan. 



1. Triacanthodes anomalus. 



Triacanthus anomalus, Schley. Faun. Japan. Poiss. p. 295, tab. 129. 



fig. 3. 

 Triacanthodes anomalus, Bleek. I. c. 



D. 4-6 I 14-16. A. 12-13. 



The height of the body is contained twice and one-third in the 

 total length (without caudal). Dorsal and ventral spines strong, 

 rough on their basal halves. Uniform brownish. 



Japan. 



a-c. From 3 to 4| inches long ; stuffed. Japan. 



