716 TELEOSTEI CHAP. 
specimens are known to have occurred on the British coasts. 
Some of the accounts of “Sea-Serpents” are probably based on 
this fish, which has been observed to swim with undulating 
motion and with a small portion of the head as well as the crest-. 
like anterior part of the dorsal fin above the water. 
The fish named Stylophorus chordatus, which has been referred 
to this family, is known from a single specimen too imperfectly 
preserved to afford a clear idea of its affinities. 
Fam. 2. Lophotidae.— Mouth moderately protractile ; ventrals 
very small, if distinct, with 4 or 5 rays; abdominal cavity 
extending nearly the whole length of the much elongated body, 
the vent very far back and followed by a short anal fin; caudal 
fin small, not divided. 
A single genus, Lophotes, with 3 or 4 species, from the Medi- 
terranean, the tropical Atlantic, the Cape of Good Hope, Japan, 
and New Zealand, reaching a length of 6 feet or more. The 
dorsal fin commences with an extremely long and strong spine on 
the head, which is much elevated and truncate in front. 
Sub-Order 11. Opisthomi. 
Air-bladder without open duct. Opercle well developed, 
hidden under the skin; supraoccipital in contact with the 
frontals, separating the parietals. Pectoral arch suspended from 
the vertebral column, far behind the skull; no mesocoracoid. 
Vertical fins with spines. Ventral fins absent. 
This division stands in the same relation to the Acantho- 
pterygii as do the Apodes to the Malacopterygii. The single 
family is possibly derived from the Blenniidae. 
Fam. 1. Mastacembelidae.—Body more or less Eel-shaped ; 
a series of short spines detached from the very elongate dorsal 
fin, which is more or less confluent with the likewise very 
elongate anal fin. A single nostril on each side. Mouth not 
protractile, bordered by the praemaxillaries, to the upper border of 
which the maxillaries are attached. Giull-cleft inferior; gills 4; 
branchiostegal rays 6; no pseudobranchiae. . Vertebrae numerous 
(72-95), the praecaudals with transverse processes bearing the 
ribs. Scales very small. 
Carnivorous fishes, from fresh and brackish waters of Southern 
Asia and Tropical Africa. 33 species are known, referable to 
