Classification cj Teleostean Fishes. 151 



bony armature absent. I therefore feel compelled to propose 

 a new name to embrace the four divisions Seleniclithyes, 

 llemibrancliii, Lopliobranchii, and Hypostomides, and have 

 chosen that of Catosteomi {Kara, da-riov, wfjLO'i), in allusion to 

 the additional bone under the shoulder-girdle, which can 

 cnly be identified with the infraclavicle or clavicle proper of 

 Ganoids and Crossopterygians, and which distinguishes the 

 group from all other Teleosteans. I may add, in further 

 support of the affinity of Lampris to the Hemibranchii, that 

 the palatine bone has the single attachment to which atten- 

 tion has first been drawn by Dr. Swinnerton (Acrartrete 

 type). 



The diagnostic characters of the suborder Catosteomi and 

 its minor groups are expressed in the following synopsis : — 



CATOSTEOMI. 



Air-bladder, if present, without open duct. Parietal bones separated 

 by the supraoccipital. Pectoral arch suspended from the skull ; no 

 mesocoracoid arch ; clavicle (infraclavicle) distinct from the cleithrum. 

 Ventral fins abdominal, if present. 



I. Selenichthyes. Praeoperculumandsym- 



plectic distinct ; branchial apparatus fully 

 developed, gills pectinated ; mouth ter- 

 minal, toothless ; post-temporal forked, 

 articulated to the skull ; pelvic bones 

 connected with pectoral arch ; ventral 

 fins with 15 to 17 rays; ribs long, 

 sessile ; fins without spines 1. Lamprididce. 



II. Hemibranchii. Proeoperculumandsym- 



plectic distinct, latter much elongate ; 

 branchial apparatus more or less reduced, 

 gills pectinated ; post-temporal simple, 

 immovably attached to the .«kull ; mouth 

 terminal. 

 A. Mouth toothed. 



1. Pelvic bones connected with pectoral 



arch ; spinous dorsal represented by 



isolated spines. 



Snout conical or but slightly tubiform ; ventral 



fins with one spine and one or two soft 



rays ; ribs slender, free ; anterior vertebrje 



not enlarged 2. Gastrosteidce, 



Snout tubiform ; ventral fins with one spine and 

 four soft rays ; ribs flattened, ankylosed to 

 lateral bony shields ; anterior vertebrae not 



enlarged 3. Aidorhynchidce. 



Snout tubiform ; ribs slender, free ; first ver- 

 tebra enlarged 4. Protosyng7iathid<e *, 



* Includes a single form, the Tertiary Protosynynathiis sumatremis, 

 wliich has been referred without adequate grounds to Auhrhijiichus or 

 Auliscofs. 



