150 SOLENOSTOMID^:. 



Order V. LOPHOBRANCHII. 



The gills are not laminated, but composed of small 

 rounded lobes, attached to the branchial arches. Gill- 

 cover reduced to a large simple plate. Air-bladder 

 simple, without pneumatic duct *. A dermal skeleton, 

 composed of numerous pieces arranged in segments, 

 replaces more or less soft integuments. Muscular 

 system not much developed. Snout produced. Mouth 

 terminal, small, toothless, formed as in Acantho- 

 pterygians. 



Lophobrauchii, Cuv. Rhyne Anim. 



I have excluded from this order the Pegasidse, for reasons stated 

 above (p. 146). On the other hand, I consider the separation of So- 

 lenostoma into a distinct division necessary, agreeing so far with Dr. 

 Kaup. They are the Acauthopterygians of this order. 



Fam. 1. SOLENOSTOMID^. 



Solenostomidae, Kaup, Lophobr. p. 1. 



Gill-openings wide. Two dorsal fins, the rays of 

 the anterior not articulated. All the othei tins well 

 developed. 



Only one genus is known : — 



1. SOLENOSTOMA. 



Solenostomus, LacSpHe. 

 Snout formed as in Siplionostoma. Body compressed, with very 

 short tail. All parts covered with thin skin, below which there is a 

 dermal skeleton formed by large, star-like ossifications. The soft 



* See Miiller, Abhandl. Berl. Ak. 1844, p. 174. In Siphonostoma typhle I 

 find a band leading from thf air-bladder to the dorsal part of the oesophagus ; 

 it is probably an obliterated duct. 



