Jordan and Ever mann. Fishes of North America. 2885 



Z. Soft dorsal and anal with a distinct lobe anteriorly, distinct 



from spiuous part CXIX, GEMPYLID^E, 877. 



ZZ. Soft dorsal and anal without anterior lobe, continuous with 



spinous part CXX, LEPIDOPODID.E, 884. 



YY. Body moderately elongate ; opercles and lips fringed ; eyes supe- 

 rior CXCVI, DACTYLOSCOPID.E, 2297. 



XX. Gill membranes broadly united, attached to the isthmus or not. 



x. Gill opening moderate or large CC, BLENNIIDJE, 2344. 



xx. Gill openings very small, reduced to oblique slits before the 



pectoral fins CCIII, CERDALID JB, 2448. 



PP. Dorsal lins of soft rays only. 



a. Breast with a large sucking dish between ventral fins. 



CXCIX, GOBIESOCID.E, 2326. 

 aa. Breast without sucking disk. 



b. Body covered with a coat of mail; dorsal very short. 



CLXXXI, AGONID^E, 2031. 

 bb. Body not mailed; dorsal many-rayed. 



c. Lateral line and base of dorsal beset with prickles; skeleton 



very soft; body compressed .. .CXXXVI, ICOSTEID^, 968. 

 cc. Lateral line unarmed. 



d. Tail isocercal, the vertebral column pointed behind, the last 



vertebrae very small; hypercoracoid not perforate; no 

 pseudobranchise. 



e. Caudal fin present CCXIV, GADIDJC, 2531. 



ee. Caudal fiu wanting CCXV, MACROURHXE, 2561. 



ad. Tail not isocercal, truncate at base of caudal; hypercoracoid 



perforate. 

 /. Gill membranes joined to the isthmus; pseudobranchiae present. 



fj. Ventral fins under shoulder girdle CCVI, ZOARCIDJE, 2455. 



gg. Ventral fins inserted below the eyes. 



CCVII, DEREPODICHTHYHXE, 2480. 

 ff. Gill membranes free from the isthmus. 

 h. Ventral fins inserted below or before the eyes; pseudobranchias 



generally well developed CCVIII, OPHIDIID^E, 2481. 



hh. Ventral fins inserted below shoulder girdle ; no pseudobranchi*. 



CCXI, BROTULID.E, 2498. 

 OO. Upper jaw prolonged into a bony sword; dorsal fin long and 



high; size large CXXII, ISTIOPHORID,E, 890. 



NN. Anal fin wanting; caudal fin distorted or directed upward; 



body ribbon-like. 

 i. Ventral fins each of a few slender rays. 



CCXVII, TRACHYPTERID^:, 2597. 

 ii. Ventral fins each reduced to a long slender filament. 



CCXVI, REGALECID^E, 2595. 

 MM. Gill openings behind the pectoral fins. 



j. Gill openings above and behind pectorals ; mouth small, low. 



CCXXIV, OGCOCEPHALID.E, 2735. 



jj. Gill openings below and behind pectorals ; mouth large, nearly 

 vertical CCXXII, ANTENNARIID^E, 2715. 



IV. VENTEAL FINS WHOLLY WANTING. 



A. Premaxillary and maxillary wanting or grown fast to the pala- 



tines; body greatly elongate, eel-shaped; gill openings 

 restricted to the sides ; scales minute or wanting ; scapular 

 arch not attached to the skull. Eels. 



B. Gill openings not very far behind cranium; gape not inordi- 



nately distensible; gill arches 4 pairs. 



C. Gill openings well developed, leading to l&rge interbranchial 



slits; tongue present; opercles and branchial bones well 

 developed; scapular arch present. 



