518 CKNTRISCID.E. 



Fam. 44. CENTRISCIDiE. 



Bouches en flute, part., Cuv. Rbgne Anim. 



Fistiilaridge, part., Miill. Berl. Ahhandl. 1844, p. 201 ; Owen, Lett. 



Comp. Anat. i. p. 49. 

 Amphisileoidei et Centriscoidei, Bleek. Enum. pp. xv & xxiii. 



Form of the body compressed, oblong or elevated ; the anterior bones 

 of the skull are much produced, and form a long tube terminating in 

 a narrow month. Teeth none. Body either covered with a cxiirass or 

 with non-confluent ossifications ; scales none, or small. Two dorsal 

 fins : the spinous short, and with one of the spines strong ; the soft 

 and the anal of moderate extent: ventral fins small, without. spine, 

 or rudimentary, abdominal. Branchiostegals three or four; air- 

 bladder large, four gills and pseudobranchiae. Pyloric appendages 

 none ; intestinal tract rather short. Vertebrae in small number, 



Mediterranean and north-eastern shores of the Atlantic. Eastern 

 coasts of Africa. Coasts of China, Japan, and Australia. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Bod> scaly or covered with prickles 1 . Ckntriscus, p. 518. 



Body without any scales, with a bony cuirass... 2. Amphisile, p. 624. 



1. CENTRISCUS. 



Centriscus, sp., L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 415. 

 Cpntriscus, Cuv. Regne Anim. 



Body oblong or elevated, compressed, covered with small rough 

 scales ; lateral line none ; some bony strips on the side of the back 

 and on the margin of the thorax and abdomen ; the former, in one 

 species, are confluent and foim a shield. Teeth none. Two dorsal 

 fins, the first with one of the spines very strong. Ventral fins small, 

 abdominal, composed of five soft rays. Four branchiostegals ; gill- 

 opening wide, four gills and pseudobranchiae ; air-bladder large ; 

 pyloric appendages none. 



From the coast of England to the west coast of Africa ; Mediter- 

 ranean. Seas of Japan and Australia. (Amboyna?) 



This genus shows a remarkable similai-ity to Zeus and Cyttus with 

 regard to its geographical distribution. 



1. Centriscus scolopaz. 



The Trumpet-fish. The Bellows-fish. 



Soolopax, Jiondel. De Pise. xv. cap. 5. p. 422; Aldrov. in. c. 13. p. 298 ; 



Jonst. i. tit. 1. cap. 1. art. 4. tab. 1. fig. 9. 

 Tnimpet-fiyh, WiUughhy, p. IGO. tab. 1. 2o. fig. 2; Roy, Syn. p. &U; 



Couch in Linn. Trans, xiv. p. 89. 



