140 Mr. C. T. Regan on the 



in that the pelvic fins are somewhat more advanced and 

 ■wider apart, and the mouth is non-protractile and inferior. 

 Pectoral arch much as in Pinijuipes, but the radials squarish. 

 Vertebrae 33 {fide Waite, Trans. N.Z. Inst. xlii. 1909, 

 p. 390). 



Fam. 5. Trachinidae. 



Fins as in the Pinguipedidae, except that the caudal lias 

 13 principal rays, 11 branched, and the pelvic fins are close 

 together and well in advance of the pectorals. Mouth 

 oblique, maxillary exposed, subocular shelf well developed 

 and mesopterygoid broad. Foramen between hyper- and 

 hypocoracoid ; radials very short, 2 on hyper- and 2 on 

 hypocoracoid. Vertebne 42 (12 + 30) ; praecaudals with 

 parapophyses from the eighth; ribs and epipleurals in- 

 serted together, on parapophyses when these are developed. 

 In other characters resembling the Pinguipedidae. 



A single genus, Trachinus. 



Fam. G. Percophiidae. 



Lateral line complete, continuous. Spinous dorsal sepa- 

 rate, of a few slender spines ; soft dorsal and anal very- 

 long ; rays of soft dorsal equal in number to the vertebras 

 below them, each basal attached to its own neural spine ; 

 one anal spine; caudal with 15 principal rays, 13 branched; 

 pelvics in advance of the pectorals, wide apart, each of a 

 spine and 5 branched rays, without scaly axillary process. 

 Mouth terminal, oblique, protractile; jaws normal; maxillary 

 exposed, without su pram axillary ; teeth in jaws cardiform, 

 with canines ; teeth on vomer and palatines. Two nostrils 

 on each side. Gill-membranes not united, free from the 

 isthmus ; 7 branchiostegals : 4 gills ; pseudobranchiae 

 present. A subocular shelf; mesopterygoid broad ; skull 

 much as in Trachinus, but more depressed, with the ex- 

 occipitals united behind the supraoccipitals, forming a roof 

 for the, foramen magnum. Pectoral arch as in Pitiguipes, the 

 radials a little shorter. Vertebrae 77 (22 + 35) ; posterior 

 praecaudals with short parapophyses ; ribs and epipleurals 

 mostly sessile, inserted together, the latter the stronger. 



Fam. 7. Benipropsidae. 



This family includes two closely related genera, Bern drops 

 {Uypsicometes) and Chrionema, with short, separate spinous 



