Classification of the Percoid Fishes. 127 



Fara. 38. Girellidae. 



Probably related to the Scorpididae and Cyphosidae, to 

 wliich they bear a considerable resemblance. Month small ; 

 maxillary concealed beneath the praeorbital and first sub- 

 orbital ; no supramaxillary ; jaws with bands of incisors ; 

 palate toothless. A subocular shelf. Vertebrae 27 (1 1 + 16) : 

 all the praecaudals with parapophyses and all the ribs 

 inserted on parapophyses. 



I have examined the skeleton in Girella, Melambaphes, 

 and Doydixodon, which differ in their osteology from the 

 Scorpididae only in the structure of the vertebral column 

 and the attachment of the ribs. Proteracanthus is near 

 Doydixodon, but has the gill-membranes broadly joined to 

 the isthmus. 



Tephraops, Pachymepoton, and Dipterodon probably 

 pertain to this family. 



Fam. 39. Ephippidae. 



Body deep, compressed. Soft dorsal and anal densely 

 scaly; 3 anal spines; caudal of 17 principal rays, 15 

 branched. Gill-membranes broadly attached to the isthmus. 

 Mouth small, terminal, not or scarcely protractile ; jaws 

 with bands of setiform teeth ; palate toothless. An elevated 

 occipital crest; no parietal crests. Vertebrae 24 (10+14): 

 praecaudals with parapophyses from the fourth ; ribs, except 

 the last 2 pairs, sessile. 



Ephippus has a distinct spinous dorsal and a broad sub- 

 ocular shelf. Plata. >• and Parapsettus have the dorsal spines 

 graduated and the subocular shelf very feeble. 



Fam. 40. Drepanidae. 



In general form, development of the vertical fins, dentition, 

 structure of the skull, and vertebral column, similar to the 

 Ephipphidae. Mouth protractile, with the maxillary exposed 

 distal ly. No subocular shelf. 



Fam. 41. Scatophagidae *. 



Body deep, compressed. Spinous dorsal well developed ; 

 anal spines 4 ; caudal of 16 principal rays, 14 branched ; 

 pelvic axillary process present. Gill-membranes forming 



* <r. Gill, Troc. U.S. Nat. Mug. xiii. L891, p. 



