2 j\Ir. C. T. Regan on the Anatomy and 



In the following account both recent and extinct forms 

 are dealt with, and the more important characters of the 

 order and its component families are set forth ; three families, 

 Berycopsidse, Diretmidse, and Anomalopidas, hitherto reo;arded 

 as of uncertain affinities, are assigned a definite place in the 

 system, and the Melamphaidse, until now included in the 

 Berycidse, are rejected from the order. 



Order Berycomoephi, 



Parietals separated by the supraoccipital ; nasals large, 

 posteriorly attached to the frontals ; opisthotic well-deve- 

 loped, bounded in front by the pro-otic and below by the 

 exoccipital ; orbitosphenoid present, united by suture with 

 the alisphenoids, but well separated from the raesethmoid ; 

 a Y-shaped basisphenoid present ; a thin-walled auditory 

 bulla, containing a large otolith, formed by the pro-otic, 

 paiasphenoid, basi-occipital, exoccipital, and sometimes the 

 opisthotic. Mouth bordered above by the protractile prs- 

 maxillaries ; maxillary articulated with the vomer and 

 attached near its proximal end to the well-developed maxil- 

 lary process of the palatine ; one or two supramaxillaries ; 

 lower jaw of dentary, articulare and angulare. First pharyngo- 

 branchial suspensory ; third and fourth ankylosed ; lower 

 pharyngeals separate ; three ossified basi-branchials. 4 gills; 

 pseudobranchige ; 7 to 9 branchiostegals. Hyo-palatine and 

 opercular bones normally developed. Vertebral column of 

 solid centra which are co-ossified with the arches ; anterior 

 ribs sessile ', posterior ribs on parapophyses ; hypurals more 

 or less fused and expanded ; three e])urals (epaxial basalia) 

 and two uroneurals. Post-temporal forked, attached to the 

 epiotic and opisthotic ; usually two post-cleithra on each side ; 

 no mesocoracoid ; pectoral radials four, hourglass-shaped, 

 only the lowest in contact with the hypocoracoid. Air- 

 bladder without pneumatic duct *. Anterior rays of vertical 

 tins spinous ; pelvic fins thoracic or subabdominal, with or 

 without spine and with from 3 to 13 soft rays; caudal fin 

 typically with 19 principal rays, 17 of which are branched 

 (18, with 16 branched, in the Polymixiidse). 



Family 1. Polymixiidse. 



Dorsal and anal fins long or moderately elongate, with a 

 few graduated spines and rather numerous soft rays ; caudal 



* I cannot find a duct in any of the genera I ha^ve examined, including 

 Beryx and Holocentrus, which are eaid to be physoatomous. 



