Classification of the Order laiomi. 



125 



almost touches the supraoccipital, but its extiemity is con- 

 nected with the epiotic by a ligament. The pelvic bones are 

 formed much as in Aulopus^ with a pair of posterior processes 

 which are slender in Saurida, short and laminar in Synodus. 

 The vertebral column is as in Aulopus, except that there are 

 no upturned centra at the base of the caudal fin ; 53 to 62 

 vertebrae in Synodus and Saurida. 



In addition to the two genera just named this family in- 

 cludes Baihysaurus and llarpodon ; the latter is a highly 

 specialized type, in which the maxillary is no longer recog- 

 nizable as a separate element; the skeleton is very feebly 

 ossified and transverse processes are not developed on the 

 vertebrai, the ribs being sessile; apparently tliere is no 

 orbitosphenoid and the frontals and alisphenoids form a 

 complete double interorbital septum, a condition approached 

 in Saurida. The pectoral arch differs from that of Synodus 

 in the longer and narrower supracleithrum, the almost mem- 

 branous coracoids, and the absence of the laminar expansion 

 of the lowest radial, in the latter character agreeing with 

 Saurida. 



Fig. 4. 



A. B. 



Pectoral arch of A, Bathypterois longifilis ; B, Synodus lucioeeps. 

 Lettering as in figure 3. 



Family 3. Sudid». 



Chlorophthalmus, usually placed near Aidopiis, differs from 

 that genus in many ways. The dorsal fin is short and the 

 pelvic fins are close together; the maxillary bears a single 

 supramaxillary ; the vomerine teeth form two separate 

 patches; the skeleton is weakly ossified, there is no orbito- 

 sphenoid, the parasphenoid is slender, the lateral ethmoida 

 meet in the middle line, the anterior attachment of the palatine 



