XXII CATOSTEOMI 633 
Fam. 7. Centriscidae.—Body moderately elongate, partially 
enclosed in a bony armour, which is distinct from the endo- 
skeleton. Anterior vertebrae elongate, with strong parapophyses 
ankylosed to the exoskeleton; no ribs. Suborbitals absent ; 
snout forming a long tube, with small, terminal, toothless mouth. 
Two dorsal fins, the anterior with a very strong spine. Pterygials 
of pectoral fin very small. Ventral fins small, with 4 or 5 
rays, the pelvic bones in contact with the postclavicles, 
Centriscus, with five species in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, 
represents this family at the present day. (. scolopaw has 
occasionally been found on the Englsh coast. Isolated spines 
from the Pliocene of Tuscany have been referred to the same 
genus. Ltha:phosus, from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, is beheved 
to have been allied to Centriscus. 
Fam. 8. Amphisilidae.— Near the preceding, but body 
extremely compressed and completely enclosed in a thin bony 
armour which is fused with the endoskeleton ; the caudal region, 
much abbreviated, is free and relegated to the ventral surface, 
the body terminating in the two dorsals, of which the first. bears 
a strong spine. The ventral fins are far back, very small, formed 
of 3 or 4 rays. 
Amphisile 1s represented by three or four recent species in the 
Indian and Pacific Oceans, and two are known from Upper 
Eocene and Oligocene beds in Europe. Dr. Arthur Willey has 
observed these fishes in the Southern Pacific. A. strigata “ lives 
in small shoals of about half-a-dozen individuals, and swims 
about with rapidity in a vertical position, cleaving the water 
with its razor-shaped body.” 
Fam. 9. Solenostomidae.—Body moderately elongate, with 
large star-like ossifications. Anterior vertebrae elongate, without 
transverse processes; no ribs. Snout much produced, tubiform ; 
mouth small, terminal, toothless; no praeoperculum ; symplectic 
elongate; gill-opening wide; gill-lamellae small rounded lobes. 
Two short dorsal fins, the rays of the anterior not articulated, 
flexible spines. Pterygials of pectoral fin very small. Ventral 
fins large, with 7 rays, behind the pectoral arch. No air-bladder. 
The unique genus, Solenostomus, with three or four species from 
the Indian and Pacific Oceans, may be regarded as in many 
respects intermediate between the Centriscidae and the Syngnath- 
idae. In the female the inner side of the ventral fins coalesces 
