452 FISHES. 



bucklers on any part of the body. Two anal spines ; ventral 

 fins composed of one si^ine and six or eight rays. 



Three species are known from Madeira, South Australia, 

 and New Zealand. 



I'ouRTH Family — Stromateid.e. 



Body more or less oblong and compressed, covered ivith very 

 small scales ; eye lateral. Dentition very feeble ; oesophagus 

 armed ivitli numerous horny, harhed processes. No hony stay 

 for the p)ra'.opereidnm. Dorsal fin single, long, unthout distinct 

 sjjinous division. More than ten abdominal and more than 

 fourteen caudal vertcbrce. 



This small family consists of strictly marine and partly 

 pelagic species referred to two genera, Stromatcus and Centro- 

 lophus. The former lacks ventral fins, at least in the adult 

 stage, and is represented by about ten species in almost all 

 the tropical and warmer seas. Centrolophus, hitherto known 

 ■ from two or three European species only (of which one occa- 

 sionally reaches the south coast of England, where it is named 

 " Black-fish "), has recently been discovered on the coast of 

 Peru, and has probably a much wider range. 



Fifth Family — Coryth^nid.e. 



Body compressed; eye lateral. Teetli small, conical, if 

 present ; (esophagus smooth. No bony stay for the praioper- 

 cidum. Dorsal fin single, long, vnthout distinct sptinous divi- 

 sion. More than ten abdomincd and more than fourteen 

 caudal vertebra:. 



All the members of this family have pelagic habits. Ee- 

 presentatives of it have been recognized in some fossil 

 remains : thus Goniogna th us h'om. the Isle of Sheppey, and the 

 living genus ilfc^ic (Gastrocnctnns) at Monte Bolca. 



CoRYPH^NA. — Body compressed, rather elongate ; adult speci- 

 mens with a high crest on the top of the head ; cleft of the mouth 



