Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2147 



aa. Myodome undeveloped, the cranial cavity mostly closed in front by expansions from 

 the subtectals suturally connected with corresponding expansions of the pro- 

 otics and the parasphenoid ; prosethmoid and an teal entirely disconnected, leav- 

 ing a capacious rostral chamber opening backward mesially into the interorbital 

 region. Infraorbital chain with its second and third bones crowded out of the 

 orbital margin by junction of the first and fourth, and leaving a wide interval 

 between the suborbitals and preoperculum ; the first very long and extending 

 backward, the second under the fourth, and the third developed as a small spe- 

 cial bone (pontinal) bridging the interval between the second suborbital and the 

 an tero- inferior angle of the preoperculum; post-temporal suturally connected 

 with the posterior bones of the cranium, and with the upper surface forming a 

 large part of the roof of the head; intermaxillaries with well-developed ascend- 

 ing pedicles gliding into the cavity between the anteal and prosethmoid. 

 Postero-temporal distant from the proscapula, and manifest as an ossicle on the 

 edge of the post-temporal. 



c. Pectoral fin divided to the base into 2 unequal parts; no free feelers; gill 

 membranes broadly joined to the isthmus ; ventral rays I, 4, the fins con- 

 tiguous. CEPHALACANTHID.E, CLXXXVI. 



Family CLXXXIV. TRIGLID^. 

 (THE GURNARDS.) 



Body elongate, usually more or less fusiform, covered with scales or 

 bony plates. Head externally bony, entirely cuirassed with rough, bony 

 plates, some of which are armed with spines; eyes high; mouth terminal 

 or subiuferior; premaxillaries protractile; maxillary without supple- 

 mental bone, slipping under the preorbital; teeth very small, in bands in 

 the jaws, and usually on vomer and palatines; gills 4, a large slit behind 

 the fourth ; pseudobranchia3 present ; gill rakers various ; gill membranes 

 free from the isthmus. Ventral fins thoracic, wide apart, separated by a 

 flat area, their rays I, 5. Spinous dorsal present, short; soft dorsal simi- 

 lar to the anal, which is without spines; caudal narrow, few-rayed; pec- 

 toral large, with broad base, with 3 lower rays detached, forming feelers. 

 These free rays are used chiefly in search for food, turning over stones, 

 exploring shells, etc. * Air bladder present ; pyloric ca3ca usually present, 

 few in number. Singular looking fishes, found in all warm seas. Genera 

 5 ; species about 40, some of them in rather deep water, these red in color, 

 the others living about rocks. (Triglidce, pt., Gunther, Cat., n, 191-210.) 



a. Palatines with teeth. 



b. Dorsal spines low, the longest usually much shorter than head; scales moderate, 



50 to 80 pores. PRIONOTUS, 792. 



bb. One or 2 of the dorsal spines greatly elevated, about as long as body; scales 



large, rough, the pores 40. J8ELLATOR, 793. 



aa. Palatines toothless ; scales small. 



c. Lateral line without enlarged bony plates. CHELIDONICHTHYS, 794. 



cc. Lateral line armed with a series of transverse bony plates. TRIGLA, 795 



* See note by Albro D. Morrill, Journ. Morphology, xi, 1895, 177. 



