24 HOLOCEPIIALL 



Subclass HOLOCEPHALI.' 



This group, defined on page 13, is equivalent to the 



Okdeu VI. HOLOCEPHALI. 



Skeleton cartilaginous; gill cavity with four clefts within, but 

 exti'rnally with a single opening, which is covered by a fold of skin 

 within which is a rudimentary opercle. No spiracles. Jaws with- 

 out separate teeth, but armed witii bony plates. Notochord persist- 

 ent, the vertebraj consisting of rings around a notochordal sheath. 

 No air-bladder; intestine with a spiral valve; skin smooth, with a 

 highly developed mucous system. Dorsal tin with a strong spine. 

 One family. (oXoj, solid ; kcc/xzAi^, head.) 



Family XTX. CHIM^RID^. 



Forehead of males with a movable cartilaginous liook, turned 

 forward and armed with prickles at tip. Oviparous, the egg- 

 cases elliptical, with silky filaments. Two genera, 5 or G species, 

 in cold waters. Fishes of most singular appearance, unlike any- 

 thing else. 

 a. Snout soft, not ending in a cutaneous tinp ; tail not bent upward. 



ClIIM.EUA, 28. 



28. CHIMiERA Linn.Tus. 



{Xifiaipa, Chimccra, a fabulous monster, with the head of a lion, 

 body of a goat, and tail of a serpent.) 



38. C. afBnis Capello. Color phiml)eous. Cold or deep water, 

 S. to Cape Cod. {Eu.) (Lat., related, — to C. moiistrosa.) 



