184: Mr. G. A. Boulcngcr on the Suborders and 



Division VII. Scleroparei. v^/ ^ 



Second suborbital bone more or less produced towards or 

 finkylosed with the pra^operculum (" suborbital stay ") *. 

 Ventral fins thoraeic. 



The ''Cheek-armoured Acanthopterjgians/' " Joues cuiras- 

 s^es " of Cuvier, after the exclusion of the sticklebacks^ form 

 a perfectly natural association, evidently derived from the 

 Serranida?, with whicli the more generalized forms have 

 much in common. From the perch-like genus Sehastes a 

 continuous series can be traced towards the Triglida?, espe- 

 cially through such forms as Apistus, Minous, and Chori- 

 dactylus, in wliich one or more of the lower pectoral rays are 

 detached from the rest of the fin. Througli the Comcphoridaa 

 the Scorpa^nidae are connected with the Cottidse, whilst the 

 latter merge insensibly into the still more aberrant Cyclo- 

 pterida^. These conclusions, which are apparent enough 

 iVom a mere comparison of the external characters, become 

 fortified by a study of the skeletons. The passage between 

 the various groups here accepted as families Is so complete 

 that no serious objection could be raised to their union in 

 one great family -with a number of minor divisions. 



Tlie character from which the fScleroparei derive their 

 name Is subject to many modifications. The second sub- 

 orbital (the third, if the pra^orbital be regarded as the first) 

 may be merely enlarged and prolonged over the cheek 

 towards the pra3operculum [Sehastes, Anhoplopoma), or 

 firmly ankylosed to the latter [Scorpcena, Plati/ccphalus), 

 or form part of the external armature of the head [Tn'gla, 

 Dactylopterus). The structure of the base of the pectoral 

 fin appears to aflford Important characters for the definition 

 of the families, as first pointed out by Gill. 



Eleven families : — 



I. Head uot completely cuirassed. 



A. Ventral fins not widely separated ; none of the pterygials in 

 contact with the clavicle. 



Two nostrils on each side ; basis cranii donble ; 



}^ill-niembraues free from isthmus 1. Scorp.-cnidcc. 



A single nostril on each side; basis cranii double; 



gill-membranes free from isthmus 2. Hexagrainmichc. 



Two nostrils ou each side; basis ci'anii simple; 



gill-membranes free or narrowly attached to 



isthmus 3. Comejjlioridce, 



Two nostrils on each side ; basis cianii simple ; 



gill-opening narrow, above base of pectoral. . 4. Rharnphocottidce. ^ 



* This character suiters one exception, to be found in Couiep/wrus, a 

 degraded form otherwise closely related to Cottucomepliuriis, in which 

 the slieleton is typical of the present division. 



