634 MR. C. TATE REGAN OX TELEOSTEAN FISHES [June 18, 



Venti-al fins appai'ently 9-i-ayecl. A dark spot on the 1mck, 



extending on to the base of the anterior branched rays of 



the dorsal fin. In other respects apparently very similar to 

 V. hi/pselopterus. 



Hah. North-west coast of Anstralia. 



A single rather badly preserved specimen, 55 mm. in total 

 length. 



5. On the Anatomy, Classification, and Systematic Position 

 of the Teleostean Fishes of the Suborder Allotriognatlii. 

 By C. Tate Regan, M.A., F.Z.S. 



[Received May 21, 1907.J 

 (Text-figures 166-171.) 



1. Descriptions of Skeletons. 



The fishes of the families Lamprididge, Veliferidae, Trachy- 

 pteridse, and Lophotidse have not usually been placed together 

 by systematists, but it is the object of the present communication 

 to show that they form a natui-al group and may be regarded as 

 comprising a sulDorder of the order Teleostei. The reasons for 

 this will be apparent when the skeletal anatomy of the various 

 types has been described. 



Lamprididc^. 



This family comprises a single species, Lampris lima, of which 

 I have examined a skeleton. This is not in very good condition, 

 and I am indebted to Messrs. W. and I. Sherrin for the opportunity 

 of ascertaining the exact limits of the supraoccipital and orbito- 

 sphenoid bones in a fresh specimen. 



The cranium (text-fig. 161) does not difier very essentially from 

 that of the Beiycoid fishes which have been described and figured 

 by Starks*, although the great development of the occipital crest, 

 which extends to the anterior extremity of the frontals, gives it a 

 different a,ppeai'ance. The parietals and epiotics are separated by 

 the supraoccipital, the exoccipitals bound the foramen magmim, 

 and the basisphenoid and orbitosphenoid are present. Cranial 

 features of importance are the absence of an opisthotic (present 

 and well-developed in all Berycoids), the extension forward of the 

 supratemporal (pterotic) to the frontal, so that the postfrontal 

 (sphenotic) does not appear on the upper surface, the position of 

 the mesethmoid, the anterior part of which is embraced by the 

 prsefrontals but which extends backwards and meets the orbito- 

 sphenoid, and the structure of the vomer, which has a pair of 

 grooves separated by a median longitudinal keel on its antero- 

 superior surface. 



The maxillary has an inner posterior process which underlies 

 the si milai- process of the prsemaxillary and slides backwards and 

 * Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxvii. 1904, pp. 601-619. 



