586 Labyrinthici and Holconoti 
opening of which is partly closed by a fold of the mucous mem- 
brane. 
Ophicephalus striatus is the most widely diffused species in 
China, India, and the Philippines, living in grassy swamps and 
biting at any bait from a live frog to an artificial salmon-fly. 
It has been introduced into Hawaii. Ophicephalus marulius 
is another very common species, as is also Channa ortentalts, 
known by the absence of ventral fins. 
Suborder Holconoti, the Surf-fishes.—Another offshoot from the 
perch-like forms is the small suborder of Holconoti (6A.«os, furrow; 
veros, back). It contains fishes percoid in appearance, with much 
in common with the Gerride and Sparide, but with certain 
¥y . 
Fic. 475.—White Surf-fish, viviparous, with young, Cymatogaster aggregatus Gibbons. 
San Francisco. 
striking characteristics not possessed by any perch or bass. All the 
species are viviparous, bringing forth their young alive, these being 
in small number and born at an advanced stage of development. 
The lower pharyngeals are solidly united, as in the Labride, 
a group which these fishes resemble in scarcely any other respects. 
The soft dorsal and anal are formed of many fine rays, the 
anal being peculiarly modified in the male sex. The nostrils, 
ventral fins, and shoulder-girdle have the structure normal 
among perch-like fishes, and the dorsal furrow, which sug- 
gested to Agassiz the name of Holconoti, is also found among 
various perch-like forms. 
