Classification of Teleostean Fishes. 269 
to the Trachinide, by Gill to the Cheenichthyide, is related 
to Chiasmodon, and apparently also to Pseudoscopelus, with 
which it agrees in having a complicated system of sensory 
organs on the body. The ventrals, although situated below 
the pectorals, are not strictly thoracic, since the pelvis is 
loosely attached, merely by ligament, to the pectoral arch ; 
the post-temporal is forked; the suborbital arch absent ; 
vertebre 32 (16+16); strong parapophyses commencing 
from the third vertebra, the ribs and epipleurals inserted close 
together near their extremity ; a large air-bladder, the pointed 
posterior extrémity of which is encased in a bony capsule 
formed by the expansion of the parapophyses of the last four 
precaudal vertebree. 
The conformation of the pectoral arch and the mode of 
attachment of the pelvis are opposed to the association of the 
Chiasmodontide with either the Gadide or the Trachinide 
in their widest sense. ‘The number of rays to the ventral fin 
(I 5) is against their incorporation among the Berycide, to 
which, besides, they show no sort of resemblance. ‘The 
Chiasmodontide should, perhaps, provisionally be placed 
near the Percesoces, together with the Stephanoberycide and 
Tetragonuride, but nothing definite can be suggested until 
the skeleton of the two latter types has been examined. 
2. The Trichodontidg (genera Trichodon and Arctoscopus), 
in spite of a superficial resemblance to Trachinus, should be 
referred to the Perciformes. The ventrals are thoracic, the 
pectorals are entirely supported by five hourglass-shaped 
pterygials, of which four are in contact with the scapula. 
Trichodon Stellert has 51 vertebra (16+35) and no epi- 
pleurals; the air-bladder is absent. 
This family is most nearly related to the Latridide *. 
3. The Sillaginide, with the single genus Sillago. This 
genus has been referred by Giinther to the Trachinide on 
account of the general resemblance it bears to Percis (Pura- 
percis). But Cuvier, who had made an anatomical examina- 
tion of these fishes, was much nearer the truth when he gave 
it as his opinion that they are most nearly allied to the 
Sciznide, from which he separated them on account of the 
vomerine teeth. In the structure of the pectoral arch, the 
thoracic veutrals, the presence of an air-bladder, they differ 
from the Trachinide and agree with the Scienide, and they 
should therefore be placed near the latter, from which they 
can only be separated by the presence of vomerine teeth and 
the elongate anal fin. In the high number of vertebre 
* Boulenger, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) xviii. 1896, p. 398. 
