352 RELATIONSHIP. 



culum wautiug." Ou the other hand, the contradictory statements of 

 Valenciennes (repeated in a footnote on p. 350)* are to be considered. 

 The superficial examination I could only make of species of the family 

 in alcohol did not permit me to confirm the existence of any opercular 

 bones, but nevertheless they may be present. 



Meanwhile the family can be recognized by the characters given by 

 Dr. and Mrs. Eigenmann, and another not noticed by them is also note- 

 worthy. The intermaxillary bones, instead of being transverse, as in 

 most nematognaths, are longitudinal, entirely distinct, parallel with each 

 other, and carry the teeth at their posterior ends. The supramaxilla- 

 ries are anterior and connected with the antero-external angle of the 

 ethmoid. Ou the whole the family appears to be more nearly related 

 to the Argiidce, Loricariichv and their admitted relatives than to the 

 Siluridce. An anatomical revision of the family is, however, much 

 needed, and any opinion formed without such an examination must be 

 considered as purely provisional. 



* There can be no vestige, however, of a suboperculum, if there are of the oper- 

 culum and interoperculum. 



