330 Dr Handyside on the History of the Sternoptixince, 



The Mouth is set with maxillary and palatine teeth. The maxillary 

 teeth are very numerous and minute, and they are arranged en crochets, 

 three rows in each jaw.* Each tooth presents the form of two incurvated 

 cones applied base to base, their concavities being directed toAvards the 

 interior of the mouth. t The palatine teeth are much larger, and the 

 existence of them appears to be distinctive of this species. They are 

 five in number on each side of the mesian plane, and being arranged 

 en cardes, they, on the approximation of the jaws, close after a dove- 

 tailed manner.;}; 



The Branchial Arches§ are four in number, on the posterior half of 

 the first three of which are placed several slender and curved dental ap- 

 pendages, resembling the teeth of a garden rake. On the first or most 

 anterior arch we count seven, on the next five, on the third three of these 

 dental appendages. The superior half of each of these appendages is 

 split down, or appears bristly along its distal half, and likewise at its 

 extremity. Moreover, on the anterior half of these three arches are placed 

 several tufts of short straight teeth, arranged en brasses. On the first 

 arch are five, on the next four, and on the third three of these dental 

 tufts. Superiorly, the first and second paii-s of arches, after ascending in 

 a curve, are attached by means of ligaments, situated beneath the cra- 

 nium, to the sphenoid bone. The third and fourth pairs are attached to 

 the upper borders of the oesophagus. Inferiorly, these arches are seen to 

 join those of the opposite side, immediately below and in front of the 

 large oval aperture of the oesophagus.^ Here they are retained in con- 

 tact, partly by means of a strong fibro-cellular membrane or ligament of 

 a triangular form,|| partly by the usual intermediate chain of three 

 minute bones continued backwards from the lingual bone. 



The Branchial Rays are five in number, naked, attenuated, and 

 curved.** 



The Dorsal Rays amount to (one moveable spine and) ten soft rays, 

 each bifurcated at its extremity, the terminating points fimbriated. 



The Anal Fin in the Sternoptix Celebes is furnished with soft rays, 

 thirteen in number, connected to each other by a transverse band near 

 the root, and bifid at their extremities, between the most anterior ray of 

 which fin, and the posterior margin of the verge of the anus, there exists 

 in this species (as a termination to the anal interspinal bone) a strong 

 anal spine, bifid at its extremity, and curved forwards in a direction paral- 

 lel to the ventral spine. +t The large anal interspinal bone, joined to a 

 great inferior spinous process, and extending down behind the anus, 

 forms in this, as in a great number of other fishes, truly the posterior 

 boundary of the abdomen. J J 



* Plate III. fig. 3, and IV. fig. 1. t Plate III. fig. 4. : Piatt III. fig. 2, and IV. fig. 3. 

 § Plates III. fig. 2 ; IV. figs. 2 and 3. t Plate III. fig. 3. il Ibid. 



•* Plates III. and IV. fig. 1. tt PUtes III. and IV. fig. I. ;: Ibid. 



