2762 



THE BONY FISHES AND GANOIDS 



Band Fishes 



coasts. The essential characteristics of these fishes are to be found in 

 the elongate and band-like form of the body; the presence of one spine 

 and five soft rays in the thoracically-placed pelvic fins; and the absence of spines in 

 the single dorsal and anal fins. The eyes are rather large and lateral, the teeth of 

 moderate size, and the caudal vertebrae unusually numerous. While the majority 

 of these fishes are confined to the northern temperate seas, a few extend into the 

 Indian Ocean and as far south as Penang. 



The remarkable fishes known as hairy backs constitute another 

 ' small family ( Trichonotidtz} distinguished from the last by the jugular 

 position of the pelvic fins, which are in front of the pectorals; there being one or 

 two spineless dorsal fins, an elongate anal fin, which is also spineless, and no papillae 

 in the neighborhood of the vent. The typical genus is represented by a single spe- 

 cies ( Trichonotus setiger) from the Oriental seas, characterized by the first few rays 



'~ .-.._ 



NEW ZEALAND THORNY NOSE. 



of the single dorsal fin being isolated and more or less elongate, and likewise by the 

 lower jaw exceeding the upper in length. The New Zealand thorny nose (Heme- 

 rocoetes acanthorhynchus) represents a second genus, differing from the last by all 

 the rays of the long dorsal being in juxtaposition, by the upper jaw being longer 

 than the lower, and the presence of horny processes on the muzzle. These fishes 

 are not unfrequently found floating on the surface of the ocean at a considerable 

 distance from land. 



The most remarkable representatives of a third small family 

 {Chirida} of this group constitute the genus Chirus, which is peculiar 

 in having several lateral lines, the number of these varying in the different species. 

 The family differs from the two preceding ones in that there is a bony stay connect- 

 ing the preopercuiar with the infraorbital ring; while it is further distinguished by 



Chirus 



