200 TKIGLtD.i: 



the third is the largest, siihqiiadrangidar. and situated between the 

 second, the pnefrontal, the upper scries of infraorbitals, and the praD- 

 operculura. None of these bones liave any spines or ridges. The 

 prteopercidnm and opcrcnlum form one continuous plane with the 

 bones cuirassing the cheek. The former has a ver}' slight ridge 

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

 obliquely situated, and its lower limb is reduced almost to notliing. 

 The operculum has no distinct ridge, but two 'sinnes, separated from 

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

 are nari-ow and smooth. 



The turbinal bones arc 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 pra^frontals are large, subrhomboidal, touching each 

 other behind the ethmoid ; their orbital margin is provided with 

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

 tei-iorly beyond the interorhital space, which is rather concave, and 

 the -svidth of which is much less than the length of the vertical dia- 

 meter of the orbit. The crown of the skull is quite flat, nearly t\\dcc 

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

 portion of the brain- capsule is rather com])resscd ; the basisphenoid 

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



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

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

 coracoid is nearly straight, -with two short processes tor its junction 

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

 diately behind these processes. The three fiee pectoral appendages 

 articulate with the two lower bones of the cax-pus. Each pubic bone 

 has two limbs : the anterior is formed by three lamellic, the interior 

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

 bones converge towards the symphysis of the eoracoids, leaving a 

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

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

 slender process, wliich. reach(!S nearly to the symphysis of the eora- 

 coids. The whole structiu'c of the pelvis constitutes a very solid base 

 for the muscular apparatus of the ventral fins. 



There are fifteen abdominal and twenty-two caudal vcrtcbrcp, the 

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

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

 in their longitudinal diameter. Each intcmeural 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. 



MuUus imlx'ibis, liu/idcl. x. c. 5. p. 2'ii!) ; (iesner, iv. p. 507; Aklrov. ii. 



c. 2. p. 131 ; m/luf/kbi/, iv. c. 7. p. 278. tab. S. 1. f. 1; Eaij, St/n. p. 87. 

 Cuculus linoatiis, Roi/, >Spi. p. 106. tab. 2. f. 11. 

 Trigla lineata, L. C^m. i. p. 1345; 7//.<af. 354; Bl. Srhii. p. 13; Cuv. 



cV Vol. iv. p. 34 ; Bonap. Faun. If/i/. Pesci ; Yanell, Brit. Fishes, i, 



p. 45 ; Guichen. Exjylor. Alger. Poiss. p. 38. 



