4S4 XRicnoxoTiu.i;. 



Fam. 40. TRICHONOTID^. 



Gobioidei, part., Cuvier. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical, covered with cycloid scales of mo- 

 derate size. Eyes directed upwards. Teeth in \illiforni bands. 

 The infraorbital ring does not articulate with the pra^opcrcnlum. 

 One long dorsal fin, with articulated, not branched rays, and without 

 a distinct spinous portion ; anal long ; ventrals jugular, with on*; 

 spine and five rays. Gill-opening very wide, seven branchiostegals ; 

 pseudobranchiae. No prominent papilla near the anus. Air-bladder 

 and pyloric appendages absent. Caudal vertebrae much more nu- 

 merous than those of the abdominal portion. 



Carnivorous fishes, living near the shores of the Ea.*it Indian 

 Archipelago and of New Zealand. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Palatine teeth 1. Triciionotus. 



Palatine teeth none 2. IIemerocoetes. 



The afiinities of these fishes arc very obscure, and one may well 

 doubt whether they are Acantho- or Malacopter^gians, the two or 

 three unarticulated dorsal rays of Trichonotus scarcely entitling them 

 to a place among the Acanthopterygians. The structure of the ven- 

 tral fin (1/5) induces me to leave them in this Order ; but, then, it 

 appears to be the better course to consider them as a separate family. 



1. TRICHONOTUS. 



Trichonotus, Bl. Schn. p. 179 ; Cuv. 8f Val. xii. p. 315. 



Head depressed, pointed, trunk subcylindiical, tail compressed ; 

 cleft of the mouth wide, nearly horizontal, with the lower jaw longest ; 

 eyes of moderate size, directed upwards. Scales of moderate size, 

 cycloid ; lateral line continuous. One dorsal ; ventrals jugular, with 

 one spine and five rays. Gill-opening very wide, with the gill-mem- 

 branes scarcely united below the throat ; seven branchiostcgals. 

 ViUiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer and the palatine bones. 

 Air-bladder and pyloric appendages none. 



Coasts of Celebes and Ceram. 



1. Trichonotus setigerus. 



Trichonotus setigerus, Bl. Schn. p. 179. taf. 89; Cuv. Sf VaL xii. 



p. yiG; Bleek. Celeb, v. p. 201. 

 polyophthalmus, Bleek. Ceram. in. p. 243 (fern.). 



B. 7. D. 47-48. A. 37-38. L. lat. 57. 



Vomerine teeth in an angular band. The space between the eyes 



