8, CERATIAS. 205 



branch is fixed to the superior end of the subopercular plate, the 

 lower to its inferior. Glosso- and uro-hyals absent ; branchiostegals 

 five, very Icng and filiform ; the outer one is di\-ided into two 

 branches, and may easily be taken for two. 



The structure of the humeral arch and of the pubic bones is 

 entirely the same as in Mcdthe, 



There are seventeen vertebrce, seven of which belong to the abdo- 

 minal portion, a^^d are much more elongate than those of the caudal 

 portion, except the last, which is the longest, and provided with a 

 prominent triangular lateral crest. The neural spines of the abdo- 

 minal vertebnc are confluent into a crest ; the neurals and hajmals 

 of the caudal vertebrae are short, compressed, inclining backwards. 

 Ribs none. 



Unes. 



Length of the first vertebra 1| 



of the second vertebra 2| 



of the fourth vertebra 3 



of the sixth vertebra 24 



of the seventh vertebra l| 



of the twelfth vertebra li 



of the sixteenth vertebra . , l| 



of the seventeenth vertebra 4| 



— of the abdominal portion ]6| 



of the caudal portion 17 



8. CERATIAS. 

 Ceratias, Kriyyei; Naturhist. Tidski: 1844, i. p. 639. 



Head and body much compressed and elevated ; cleft of the mouth 

 rather wide, subvertical. Teeth of the jaws of moderate size, conical, 

 moveable ; palate toothless. Skin i^overed with numerous prickles. 

 The spinous dorsal fin is reduced to two long isolated spines, the one 

 on the middle of the head, the other on the back. The soft dorsal 

 and anal short. Ventrals none ; pectorals very short. Gill-opening 

 rather wide, below the pectoral ; branchiostegals six ; three gills, 

 the third xinited with the pharynx ; air-bladder none. Pyloric ap- 

 pendages two, small. Skeleton soft, fibrous. 



Coast of Greenland. 



1. Ceratias holbolli. 

 KroyeTf I. c. ; Oaimard, Voy. Scand. Poiss. pi. 9. 



D. 1 I 1 1 4. A. 4. C. 8. P. 19. 



Entirely black. Caudal fin veiy long, lanceolate ; the membrane 

 behind the dorsal and anal fins extends nearly to tne base of the 

 caudal. 



Coast of Greenland. 



