638 Mr. 0. Thomas on a neiv 



of its forrrij the muciferous channels on the head, the larpje 

 eye, and the oblique mouth, and in spite of the fact that 

 the pelvic fin is formed of a spine and only 5 branched rays. 

 I have little doubt that he is right;, and that the family 

 CaristiicUe belongs to the Berycomorphi, for the caudal fin 

 has spinous procurrent rays and include 19 principal rays, 

 17 branched (fide Gill & Smith), as in typical Berycoids. 

 In the Percomorphi there are not more than 17 principal 

 rays (15 branched) and the number may be much less in 

 the more specialized members of the order. 



The Caristiidpe seem to be nearest to the Diretmidpe*, 

 differing from them in the cycloid scales, the longer dorsal 

 fin commencing above the middle of the eye, the pelvic fins 

 more anteriorly placed, A^-ith normal spines and folding into 

 a ventral groove, the narrower maxillary (? without supra- 

 maxillary), and the toothed palate. The vertebrae number 

 about 40, as shown by a radiograph of C.japonicus. 



LXXX. — New Centronycteris and Ctenomys /rom 

 S. America. By Oldfield Thomas. 



(Publii-hed by permission of the Trustees of tlie British Museum.) 



Centronycteris centralis, sp. n. 



Nearly allied to C. maximiliani , but slightly larger, 

 colour rather darker, and basi-sphenoid pits of skull 

 markedly shorter. 



Fur long and loose ; hairs of back about 6*5 mm. in 

 length. General colour above dark tawny brown, that of 

 a Para example of C. maximHiani somewhat paler. Basal 

 third of interfemoral well clothed wdth long hairs. 



Skull decidedly larger than that of C. niaximiliani, its 

 general structure as in that species, with the exception that 

 the basi-sphenoid pits are much shorter, not longer than 

 broad and not extending forwards between the pterygoids ; 

 their length is 1*8 mm. in the type, as against 28 in 

 maximiliani, where they reach forward to well between the 

 pterygoids. 



* Cf. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (8) vii. 1911. p. 5. 



