176 Mr. G. A. Boulenger on the Suborders and 



(Esophagus with lateral sacs which are beset with 



toothed papillae internally ; spinous dorsal, 



if distinct, shorter than the soft dorsal ; 



scales moderate or small, cycloid, often 



deciduous 9. Stromateidce. 



No sacs in the oesophagus ; fins without spines ; 



scales very small or absent 10. Icosteida. 



2. All or all but the two anterior vertebra? with parapophyses ; 

 scales on head large ; a suprabranchial cavity. 



No spines to the fins 11. Ophiocephalidcs. 



Strong spines to the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins. 12. Anabantidce. 



Suborder IX. Anacanthini. 



Air-bladder without open duct. Parietal bones separated 

 by the supraoccipital ; prootic and exoccipital separated by 

 the enlarged opisthotic. Pectoral arch suspended from the 

 skull; no mesocoracoid arch. Ventral fins below or in front 

 of the pectorals, the pelvic bones posterior to the clavicular 

 symphysis and only loosely attached to it by ligament. 



Fins without spines ; caudal, if present, without expanded 

 hypural, perfectly symmetrical, and supported by the neural 

 and haemal spines of the posterior vertebras and by basal 

 bones similar to those supporting the dorsal and anal rays. 

 This type of caudal fin must be regarded, as I have pointed 

 out *, as secondary, the Gadidas being no doubt derived from 

 fishes like the Macruridse, in which the homocercal fin had 

 been lost. The scapular foramen or fenestra is nearly always 

 between the scapular and coracoid bones, as in the Traehinidse 

 and several allied families, not in the coracoid, as in the 

 other Acanthopterygians. The first two vertebrae have no 

 epi pleurals. 



Mr. C. Tate Regan f> who has recently given a good defi- 

 nition of the Anacanthini, divides them into three families, 

 which are here adopted : — 



Ventral fins below the pectorals, with 7 to 12 rays ; 



no caudal fin 1 . Macruridce. 



Ventral fins jugular, with 1 to 9 rays; caudal 



fiu more or less distinct (diphycercal or iso- 



cercal) 2. Gadidce. . 



Ventral fins jugular, with 5 rays; no caudal fin; 



pectoral pterygials in increased number (10) ; 



scales as in the Anguillidre 3. Mur<enolepidid<e. 



* Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) x. 1902, p. 205. 

 f Op. cit. xi. 1903, p. 400. 



