GARMAN: THE CHIMAEROIDS. 267 
rations. The pectoral reaches behind the origin of the second dorsal, and 
behind the bases of the ventrals, which last extend little farther backward than 
the origin of the second dorsal. Hinder margin of ventral and upper margin 
of second dorsal coneave. Base of anal short, close to subeaudal, with which 
its base is united by a membrane; anal depth about equal to height of second 
dorsal. The bases of the anal and the subcaudal of this specimen are about a 
quarter of an inch apart, excepting the membrane, yet when the anal is at 
rest its hind border is in contact with nearly the whole anterior edge of the 
fin behind it. The color of the flanks is silver, of the back is light brownish, 
and of the fins is brown. Probably the colors vary with age and sex. 
On a specimen of five and three-fourths inches in length the canals of the 
lateral system are not completely covered, as in the sixteen-inch individual ; 
they are slit lengthwise, as on Rhinochimaera, but on the larger one they are 
closed tubes with pores leading to the interior. The pectoral in this example 
_ does not reach backward of either the origin of the second dorsal or the base 
of the ventral. The arrangement of the spines on this small specimen is like 
that on the larger one ; above the hind edge of the orbit on the outer side of 
the cranial canal there is a short longitudinal series of two or three ; just inside 
of this at the inner side of the canal a series begins and extends forward for 
about twelve spines to the front end of the interorbital space, where it crosses 
to meet a similar series on the other side of the crown ; close to the inner sides 
of the posterior extremities of these series there are several spines, sometimes 
but one; at each side of the median line, between the dorsals, there is a longi- 
tudinal series of fourteen or fifteen spines; a similar row of fourteen spines 
occurs at each side of the vertebral line between second dorsal and supracaudal. 
Classification. 
The intention in this section is to favor that nomenclature which was first 
applied with approximate correctness, and to follow the rules of priority in 
regard to designations for the higher groups as for the lower, the appeal for 
fair treatment in relation to credit and recognition being admitted to be quite 
as worthy in the case of the larger as in that of the smaller. It does not ap- 
pear entirely just to carefully credit authorities for the names of species and at 
the same time to disregard the claims of those who have determined the values, 
affinities, and classification. Besides, a general acceptance of prior names tends 
to abate the multiplication of synonyms. 
The history of the Chimaeroids begins at a much earlier date than that of 
Linné, as is seen in recognizable figures of Chimaera by Clusius, 1605, Exoti- 
corum, page 137, by Aldrovandi, 1613, De Piscibus, Lib. III., pages 402 and 
403, and by others; but it is no purpose of this writing to present either a 
complete history, bibliography, or synonymy. A few words on the origin of 
each of the terms adopted will suffice. 
Linné used the name Chondropterygii in the first edition of his Systema, in 
1735. He divided the fishes, as he knew them, into Plagiuri, Chondropterygii, 
