18*4 Mr. G. A. Boulcnger on the Suborders and 



Division VII. SCLEROPAREI. 



Second suborbital bone more or less produced towards or 

 ankylosed with the praeoperculum (" suborbital stay ") *. 

 Ventral fins thoracic. 



The " Cheek-armoured Acanthopterygians," " Joues cuiras- 

 se*es " of Cuvier, after the exclusion of the sticklebacks, form 

 a perfectly natural association, evidently derived from the 

 Serranidae, with which the more generalized forms have 

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

 continuous series can be traced towards the Triglidse, espe- 

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

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

 detached from the rest of the fin. Through the Comephoridee 

 the Scorpaenidae are connected with the Cottidae, whilst the 

 latter merge insensibly into the still more aberrant Cyclo- 

 pterida?. These conclusions, which are apparent enough 

 from 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. 



The character from which the Scleroparei derive their 

 name is subject to many modifications. The second sub- 

 orbital (the third, if the prgeorbital be regarded as the first) 

 may be merely enlarged and prolonged over the cheek 

 towards the praeoperculum (Sebastes, Anhoplopoma), or 

 firmly ankylosed to the latter (Scorpcena, Platycephalus), 

 or form part of the external armature of the head [Trigla^ 

 Dactyhpterus). The structure of the base of the pectoral 

 fin appears to afford important characters for the definition 

 of the families, as first pointed out by Gill, 



Eleven families : — - 



J. Head not completely cuirassed. 



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

 contact with the clavicle, 



Two nostrils on each side ; basis cranii double ; 



gill-membranes free from isthmus 1. Scorpxnida >.. 



A single nostril on each side; basis cranii double; 



gill-membranes free from isthmus 2. Hexayrammidc?. 



Two nostrils on each side; basis cranii simple; 



gill-membranes free or narrowly attached to 



isthmus 8. Comephoruhc. 



Two nostrils on each side ; basis cranii simple ; 



gill-opening narrow, above base of pectoral. . 4. Rhamphocottidte. 



* This character suffers one exception, to be found in Comepkorus, a 

 degraded form otherwise closely related to Cbttocomephorus, in which 

 the skeleton is typical of the present division. 



