312 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 



graphs in the whole field of ichthyology is the "Contributions to the Comparative Study 

 of the So-called Scombroid Fishes" by Professor Kamakichi Kishinouye of the Tokyo 

 Imperial University. For here we find a comprehensive synthesis of prolonged investiga- 

 tions in field and laboratory on the external characters, skull, backbone, muscles, ligaments 

 and tendons, vascular system, brain, biology, ecology, classification and phylogeny of the 



sphot 

 post. orb. proe 



sphot 

 Socket for hyom 



Socket -for hyom 



1'' 



II V-VIl \ _, 



my o dome 



Fig. 191. Thunnus. A. Side view. B. Median sagittal section of skull. 



"so-called scombroid fishes"; these the author classified under twenty-one species, thirteen 

 genera, four families and two orders. 



The feature of this work which is the least likely to be acceptable to ichthyologists is 

 the proposal to separate the tunnies and bonitos from all other scombroid fishes and to 

 create for them an "order" (Plecostei) equivalent in rank with all other Teleostei, the 

 latter being regarded as an "order" of teleostomous fishes. In defense of this procedure 

 the author cites his discovery that in the "Plecostei" (tunnies and bonitos) the vascular 



