ARTIFICIAL KEY. 29 
Series II. VentRAL FINS PRESENT, THORACIC OR JUGULAR. 
A, Eyes unsymmetrical, both on same side of head. . PLEURONECTID#, 89, 
AA. Eyes symmetrical. 
B. Gill openings in front of pectorals. 
C. Body more or less scaly, or armed with bony plates. 
D. Ventral fins united into one; no lateral liue; gill membranes 
qomen to ithmas, "2 ae eee a GoBIIDs, 82, 
DD. Ventral fins separate. 
£. Top of head with a large sucking-disk, modified from the spinous 
Ca al a Po att | EAC aa ECHENEIDID4, 50. 
EE. Top of head without sucking-disk. 
fF. Ventral rays, I, 5. 
G. Suborbital with a bony stay which extends across the cheeks 
to or towards the preopercle; cheeks sometimes entirely 
bony. 
H. Pectoral fin with 2 or 3 lower rays detached and separate. 
TRIGLID&, 76. 
HH. Pectoral fin entire; slit behind fourth gill small, or 
wanting. 
I. Dorsal spines, 9 to 17; anal spines three; eyes lateral. 
SCORPENID&, 72. 
I. Dorsal spines, four; eyes superior. URANOSCOPID&, 81. 
GG. Suborbital stay wanting; cheeks not mailed. 
K. Dorsal spines all or nearly all unconnected by membrane. 
L. Body elongate, subterete. . . . . ELACATID&, 51, 
LL. Body oblong or ovate, compressed. 
M. Caudal peduncle very slender, the fin widely forked. 
CARANGID4, 56. 
MM. Caudal peduncle stout, the fin little forked. 
STROMATEID#, 58. 
KK. Dorsal spines, if present, mostly connected by membrane. 
NV. Dorsal and anal each with 4 or more finlets; scales minute. 
SCOMBRID&, 55. 
WN. Dorsal and anal without finlets, or with but one each. 
O. Throat with two long barbels . . . , MULLID4, 67. 
OO. Throat without barbels. 
P. Anal preceded by two free spines (these often obsolete 
with age). 
Q. Scales very small, cycloid. . . CARANGID&, 56. 
QQ. Scales moderate, ctenoid. . . PoMATOMID&, 57. 
PP. Anal without free spines. 
ft. Tail with a fleshy keel on each side. 
CARANGID4&, 56. 
FR. Tail not keeled. 
S. Dorsal fin very long, without distinct spines ; 
caudal deeply forked. . CoryeHanip@, 59. 
SS. Dorsal fin with distinct spines ; gill membranes 
free from isthmus. 
I. Vomer with teeth. 
U. Anal spines none; eyes on top of head. 
URANoScCOPID#, 81. 
UU. Anal spines, one or two. 
