6 SIGNS, ABBREVIATIONS, ETC. 



> =More than, longer than, or more than equivalent to, 



<=Less than, in its various senses. 



= =:Sign of equivalence. 



The toes are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4; 1 being the hind toe, or 

 hallux; 2 the inner anterior toe; 3 the middle toe; and 4 the 

 outer toe. 



III. — Reptiles. 



Z.=Length in inches. 



Sc. or Scales=~Number of longitudinal rows of scales exclusive 

 of the ventral series. 



(t.= Number of ventral plates, or gastrosteges, counted along the 

 belly, from the throat to the vent. The figures given in the 

 descriptions are intended to be average, the actual number 

 being quite variable. 



(7.= Number of pairs of sub-caudal plates, or urosteges, counted 

 from the vent to the tip of the tail. 



IV.— Fishes. 

 i>.= Dorsal fin. 



2d i>.= Second dorsal fin. 



i^r= Pectoral fins. 



F. = Ventral fins. 



^.— Anal fin. 



C— Caudal fin. 



Z?. = Branch ioste2:als. 



Roman numerals used with the above abbreviations indicate 

 the number of ifpines or inarticulate rays in a fin. Arabic numer- 

 als indicate the number of soft rays. In a fin containing both 

 spines and soft rays, a comma ( , ) separating the numerals indicates 

 that the two kinds of rays are contimious, or more or less 

 connected. A dash (— ) indicates their separation. Thus, "D, X, 

 12," describes a single dorsal fin with 10 spines and 12 soft rjiysj 

 " I), X— 12," indicates two dorsal fins — the first of 10 spmes, the 

 second of 12 soft rays: - D, X — T, 12," would indicate ' the 

 presence of a single spine in the second dorsal. 



The posterior soft ray of the dorsal and anal fins is usually 

 split to the base. It should be counted as o?ie ray and not as two. 



