CENTRARCHID^. 01 



B. A superbrancliial cavity. (Labyrinthici.) 

 Pelvic bones ankylosed to clavicles ; dorsal, anal, 



and ventral fins with spines 12. OsPHROMENiDiE. 



Pelvic bones connected with clavicles by ligament ; 



dorsal, anal, and ventral fins with spines . . 13. Anabantid^. 

 Pelvic bones connected with clavicles by ligament ; 



fins without spines .. . 14. Ophiocephalid.e. 



II. Ventral fins inserted much behind vertical of base of pectorals. 



A. Ventral fins with one spine and 5 soft rays ; two dorsal fins, well separated 



from each other. (Percesoces.) 



1. Pectoral fin inserted high up the side. 

 Pelvic bones free or connected with the clavicles by 



ligament ; teeth conical 15. Atherinid,*:. 



Pelvic bones suspended from the postclavicles ; 



teeth minute, setiform, or absent IG. Mugilid^. 



2. Pectoral fin much nearer the ventral than the dorsal outline of the 



body. 



Pelvic bones suspended from the postclavicles ; 

 pectoral fin with a lower portion consisting of 

 free rays 17. Polynemidjc. 



Pelvic bones not connected with scapular arch ; 



dentition very powerful ......... 18. SPHYRiENiD^. 



B. Ventral fins reduced to one spine and one or two soft rays. (Gastrostei.) 

 No scales ; dorsal fin with isolated spines .... 19. Gastrosteid.e. • 



III. Ventral fins in front of vertical of base of pectorals. (Jugulaues.) 

 Ventral fins with not more than 4 rays ; body naked 



or with very small scides 20. BLENNliPiR. 



Family 1. CENTRARCHID^. 



Perciform fishes with the suborbitals not produced into a subocular 

 lamina, with teeth on the palate, separate lower pharyngeal bones, gill- 

 membranes free from isthmus, 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays, and two 

 nostrils on each side. Spinous dorsal well developed ; soft portion of 

 dorsal not more developed than anal; latter with 3 or more sj)ines. 

 Praecaudal vertebrae with transverse processes from the third or fourth to 

 the last ; ribs, all but the last or last two sessile, inserted on the centrum 

 behind the transverse process. 



Fresh and brackish waters of North America. The genus Kul/Iia 

 irregularly distributed over the coasts of East and South Africa, the 



