183 Mr. G. A. Boulengcr on the Suborders and 



absence of spines to the fins, is merely, it seems to me, 

 the result of degradation ; they probably form the terminal 

 group of a series in which the vertebral column was origin- 

 ally homocercal and fin-spines were present, as is the case in 

 most of the Blenniidse and Trachinidse and their near allies. 

 All these families may be assumed to have evolved in several 

 series, often on parallel lines, from some group closely related 

 to the Berycidse; the resemblance which their terminal forms 

 bear to the Anacanthini is, as recognized by Regan, probably 

 to be ascribed to convergence, not to any close genetic 

 affinity. 



Fifteen families : — 



I. Pectoral rays attached to the scapula and to a series of pterygials, 



of which only one or two are in contact with the scapula ; ventral 

 fins jugular, with 1 spine and 4 or «5 soft rays ; auteiior dorsal 

 rays usually spinous or not articulated, often forming a detached 

 tin. 



A. Epipleurals present. 



1. Second suborbital produced inwards to support the eyeball. 

 Ventrals close together ; scales very small, cycloid, 



forming oblique bands 1. Trachinidcc. 



Ventrals widely separated 2. Fercophiidcc. 



2. No subocular shelf. 



Ventrals widely separated ; two nostrils on each 



side 3. Leptoscopidee. 



Ventrals widely separated ; a single nostril on each 



side 4. Nototheniidee. 



Ventrals close together ; scales very small, forming 



oblique bands ; head partly covered with bony 



plates 5. TJranoscopuJas. 



B. No epipleurals. 



Post-temporal forked, articulated to the skull ; soft 



dorsal and anal much elongate 0. Trichonotida. 



Post-temporal closely adnate to the skull ; soft 



dorsal and anal short (with only 7 to 10 rays) . . 7. Callionymidce. 

 Post-temporal simple, articulated to the skull ; soft 



dorsal and anal short ; a ventral sucker 8. Gobicsocidce. 



II. Pectoral vays all attached to the pterygials, of which two or three 



are in contact with the scapula; ventral tins, if present, jugular 

 or mental, composed of 1 to 4 rays. 

 A. Ventrals j ugular or absent. 



Post- temporal distinctly forked ; prpecaudal ver- 

 tebras with transverse processes ; some or all 

 of the dorsal rays spinous or not articulated ; 

 caudal fin usually distinct 9. B'.enniidcc. 



Post-temporal small and ankylosed to the skull ; 

 praecaudal vertebras without well-developed 

 transverse processes ; a very short spinous 

 dorsal ; caudal tin distinct 10. Batmchidcc. 



