Classification of the Order Scleroparei. 181 



he separates Cottocomephorns from tlie Cottidte because the 

 epipleurals are borne on short parapopliyses ; but this is the 

 case in some other genera, particularly Scorpcenojjaisj and 

 the character is unimjiortant. 



In Icelus bicornis (fig. 4, 7) the liypercoracoid and hypo- 

 coracoid are only narrowly separated and but a small part o£ 

 the third radial is inserted on the cartilage between them ; 

 the Agonidse are essentially similar, and so is Rhampho- 

 cottus and a number of other Clottid genera, Iceliniis^ 

 2'ri</Iops, &c. 



In Pseudohlennius, RaduUnus, Podahrus, &c. the greater 

 part or even the whole ot the third radial is inserted on 

 cartilage, and in Cotlus, Asceh'chthysi, Enophrys, Oh'gocottus, 

 &c. it is inserted direct on the cleithrum ; however, it is 

 often difficult to distinguish between these two conditions, 

 for the cleithrum may extend to the radials externally to the 

 cartilage, as in Ilemilepidotus and Scorpcenichthys, where part 

 ot the second radial and the third are inserted on cartilage 

 when seen from within, on tlie cleithrum in an external 

 view. In Oncocottus, Gymnocottus, Ariediellus, and Cerato~ 

 cotlus the third and half the second radial, in Blepsias and 

 Nautichthys the third and all or the greater part of the second 

 radial are on the cleithrum, these leading to Hemitripterus 



(fig; 4' ^)- 



The Eocene Eocottus may be, in my opinion, a Gobioid, 



and Lepidvcottus also may belong to the same group. 



Family 2. Cottunculidae. 



Coituncidus differs from the Cottidse in the characters given 

 in the synopsis ; the pectoral fin skeleton is figured (tig. 4, 3) ; 

 the vertebrai number 28 (10 + 18). 



Family 3. Psychrolntidag. 



Psychrolutes and Neojyhrynichthys differ from the Cottida3 

 in the very depressed skull, with a median keel on the upper 

 surface of the parasphenoid meeting the frontals and forming 

 a complete interorbital septum. The pectoral fin skeleton is 

 figured (fig. 4, 4) ; the vertebrse number 40 (14 + 26) in 

 Neophrynichthys latus. 



Family 4. Comephoridae. 



Diflfer from the Cottidje in that the second suborbital is 

 not or scarcely produced across the cheek ; t!ie skeleton is 



