272 



Mr. C. T. Eegan on the 



frontals. Pectoral arch much as in the Dactyloscopidre, 

 except that the coraeoids and radials are smaller (figi 3, 2). 



cor p/ 



Bones at base of pectoral fin of 1. Dactyloscopvs tridigitatiis and 2. Xi- 

 phidion cMnis. Pectoral arch of 3. Zoarces vivipai'us and 4. Brotula 

 jayakari. 



Lettering as in fig. 1 ; pv, pelvis; 



Xiphidion comprises a few species, eel-shaped shore-fishes 

 of the North Pacific. 



1h Xiphidion chirus I count 76 vertebrae (24 -|- 52) ; para- 

 pophyses are developed on the prsecaudals from the fourth. 



Family 4. Stichseidae. 



Body usually scaly. Caudal either free or united with 

 the dorsal and anal, usually with 15 principal rays. Pelvic 

 fin?^ when present, jugular, with the soft rays normally 

 branched. Parietals separated by supraoccipital ; no basi- 

 sphenoid ; parasphenoid meeting frontals. Praeorbital with 

 an inner shelf attached anteriorly to the posterior face of 

 lateral ethmoid ; suborbitals well ossified ; exoccipital con- 

 dyles above the basioccipital, with articulating surfaces 

 looking downwards and backwards ; centrum of first vertebra 



