Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2499 



II. Preopercle with 3 or 4 spines, opercle with a 

 single one; head partially naked. 



DICROMITA, 960. 



kk. Lateral line obsolescent, almost, or quite invisi- 

 ble; opercle with a feeble spine; head 

 smooth ; eyes small, 

 m. Ventral consisting of a single ray. 



BASSOZETUS, 961. 



mm. Ventral bifid. MCEBIA, 962. 



jj. Ventrals each of a pair of rays. 



. Caudal fin exserted, but confluent with anal and 



dorsal, 

 o. Head scaly. 



p. Preopercle with small spines at its 

 angle, opercle with 1 spine. 



NECBYTHITES, 963. 

 pp. Preopercle unarmed. 



q. Opercle with 2 spines; ventrals 

 close together. 



BEXTHOCOMETES, 964. 

 qq. Opercle with 1 strong spine; 

 ventrals far apart. 



BASSOGIGAS, 965. 



nn. Caudal not confluent with vertical fins, but 

 without distinct peduncle; teeth on jaws, 

 vomer, and palatines in villiform bands; 

 preopercle unarmed ; head scaly. 

 r. Opercle with a flat spine ; snout much pro- 

 duced and dilated; lateral line very 

 indistinct (or absent?). 



BABATHRODEMUS, 966. 



rr. Opercle a triangular flap, unarmed; lower 

 pectoral rays prolonged, the lowest 

 filamentous. NEMATONUS, 967. 



Hi. Lateral line represented by 3 rows of pores dorsal, lat- 

 eral, and ventral ; head with spines. 

 s. Ventrals of 2 distinct rays ; opercular spine moder- 

 ate, straight. POROGADUS, 968. 

 ss. Ventrals each of 2 united rays, opercular spines 

 strong, curved. PENOPUS, 969. 

 hh. Pectorals with the lower rays differentiated. 



. Preopercle armed with 3 spines; opercle armed with 1 

 spine; lateral line obsolete posteriorly ; ventrals bifid. 



DICROLENE, 970. 



tt. Preopercle unarmed; a single spine on opercle; lateral 

 line absent (?); ventrals each a pair of filaments, 

 closely united throughout. MIXONUS, 971. 



APHYONIN^ : 



gg. Ventrals inserted on humeral symphysis ; lateral line obsolete (in 

 almost every case); ventrals each of a single filament; body 

 naked ; notochord persistent. 



u. Eye visible through the skin ; a few fang-like teeth on vomer 

 and mandible. BARATHRONDS, 972. 



uu. Eye not visible ; no teeth on maxillary or palatines ; teeth on 

 vomer rudimentary, those on mandible small. 



APHYONUS, 973. 



