SCOKPiENIDyE. 



417 



deep ; no scales, but the skin is covered with minute tubercles. 

 Snout very short, with nearly vertical anterior profile. Prae- 

 orbital, prae- and inter-operculum with spines on the edge. 

 Dorsal fin with seven or eight, anal with two spines. Pectorals 

 short, ventrals rudimentary. Jaws with villiform teeth. 



These fishes belong to the smallest of Accanthopterygians, 

 scarcely exceeding 1^ inches in length. Two species are 

 known, which are rather common on the coral reefs of the 

 Pacific. 



Chorismodactylus. — Head and body rather compressed, scale- 

 less, with skinny flaps. Bones of the head with prominent 

 ridges ; the praeorbital, prteoperculum, and operculum armed ; 



Fig. 181. — Chorismodactylus multibarbis. 



a depression on the occiput. One dorsal fin, with thirteen 

 spines ; the anal with two. Three free pectoral appendages. 

 Ventral fins with one spine and five rays. Villiform teeth in 

 the jaws only. 



Only one small species, Ch. muUiharhis, is known, from 

 the coasts of India and China. 



To complete the list of Scorpsenoid genera, we have to 

 mention Tmnianotus, Centropogon, Pentaroge, Tetraroge, Pro- 

 sopodasys, Aploadis, Trichopleura, Hcmitriioterus, Minous 

 and Pelor. 



2 E 



