280 Mr. C. T. Regan on the 



losed witli parletals, separated hy snpraoccipital ; no mesetli- 

 nioid. Epipleurals present, the first running from neural 

 arcli of first vertebra to cleitiirum. Upper li jpnral ankylosed 

 to last half-centrum, lower borne bj preceding centrum. 

 4 or 5 pectoral radials. 



Family Batrachoididae. 



Body more or less elongate ; head depressed ; mouth 

 wide, terminal, with conical or cardiform teeth in jaws and 

 on palate. Soft dorsal and anal more or less elongate; 

 pectorals broad-based. Skull depressed, flat above, more or 

 less contracted between and expanded behind the orbits ; 

 parasphenoid and frontals united by suture between the 

 orbits. Vertebra 28-45 (1 + 9-12 + 17-34). 



Principal genera: Batrachoides, Opsanns, PoricJifhi/s, 

 Tludassophryne. 



The cranial osteology is illustrated by the accompanying 

 figures of the skull of Batrachoides didactylus ; Opsanns tau 

 differs only in minor details, but in Porichthys jyorosissinms 

 the skull is more contracted between the orbits and the 

 lateral ethmoids are separated superiorly by a process of the 

 vomer, which reaches the frontals. 



Suborder 2. L P H 1 I D E A. 



Spinous dorsal, when com]dete, of 6 flexible spines, the 

 first 8 on the head, the first {^illicium) typically terminating 

 in a flap or bulb ; basal bone of illicium movable in a 

 depression on top of head ; pelvic fins, when present, each 

 of a spine and 5 soft rays, (jrill-opening above, behind, or 

 below, rarely ])artly in front of base of pectoral; gills 2, 2h, 

 •^ + 2^, or 3. Epiotics distinct from parietals, meeting 

 behind snpraoccipital ; mesethnioid ossified. No epipleurals. 

 Hypural plates ankylosed to last vertebra. 2 or 3 pectoral 

 radials. 



Division 1. LOPHIIFORMES. 



Pelvi-: fins present. Lower pharyngeals dentigerous. 

 Gills 3, complete on first, wanting on fourth branchial arch ; 

 pseudobranchia?.. Parasphenoid united by suture to frontals 

 between the orbits ; frontals in contact for the greater part 

 of their length ; upper surface of skull with a depression in 

 front of the snpraoccipital. Prfiecaudal parapophyscs directed 

 downwards and obliquely backwards, overlapping and closely 

 attached to each other. 



