6.18 Mr. 0. Thomas on a neio 



of its form, the muciferous channels on the head, the large 

 eye, and the oblique mouth, and in spite of the fact that 

 the pelvic fin is formed of a spine and only 5 branched rays. 

 I have little doubt that he is right, and that the family 

 Caristiidse belongs to the Berycomorphi, for the caudal fin 

 has spinous procurrent rays and include 19 princii)al rays, 

 17 branched (fide Gill & Smith), as in typical Berycoids. 

 In the Percomorphi there are not more tlian 17 principal 

 rays (15 branched) and the number may be much less in 

 the more specialized members of the order. 



The Caristiidse seem to he nearest to the Diretmidse *, 

 differing from them in the cycloid scales, the longer dorsal 

 fin commencing above the middle of the eye, tlie pelvic fins 

 more anteriorly placed, with normal spines and folding into 

 a ventral groove, the narrower maxillary (? without s\;pra- 

 maxillary), and the toothed palate. The vertebrae number 

 about 40, as shown by a radiograph of C.japonicus. 



LXXX, — New Centronycteris and Ctenomys /rom 

 S. America. By Oldfield Thomas. 



(Published by permission of the Trustees of the British Museum.) 



Centronycteris centralis, sp. n. 



Nearly allied to C. maximifiani, but slightly larger, 

 colour rather darker, and basi-sphenoid pits of skull 

 markedly shorter. 



Fur long and loose ; hairs of back about 6*5 mm. in 

 length. General colour above dark tawny brown, that of 

 a Para example of C. maximiliani somewhat paler. Basal 

 third of interfemoral well clothed with long hairs. 



Skull decidedly larger than that of C. maximTfiani, its 

 general strncture as in that species, with the exception that 

 the basi-sphenoid pits are much shorter, not longer than 

 broad and not extending forwards between the pterygoids ; 

 their length is 1'8 mm. in the type, as against 2'8 in 

 maximiliani, where they reach forward to well between the 

 pterygoids. 



* Cf. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (8) vii. 191], p. 5. 



