572 PKOF. T. W. BKIDGE ON THE MESIAL 



those immediately posterior. The segments are clipped by the 

 cleft bases of the soft rays. 



Anal fin. — In this fin there are seventeen radial elements and 

 nineteen fin-rays. The radial elements are all bisegmental and 

 resemble those of the posterior section of the dorsal fin, except 

 that the postero-inferior processes of the proximal segments liave 

 no lateral wing-like outgrowths. The fin-rays are also similar, 

 but the first and last of the supporting radial elements carry 

 each two rays. 



MUGILIDJE. 



Mugil capita. 



This species has an anterior and a posterior dorsal, and an 

 anal fin. 



AnteriorBorsalfin. — There are four radial elements (PI. XXIII. 

 fig. 30) consisting of proximal segments only, and a like number of 

 spinose fin-rays. The distal end of each proximal radial segment 

 forms a transversely elongated groove into which fits a similarly 

 elongated condyle formed by the base of a spinose ray. The 

 first three spines have perforated bases, the foramen being 

 situated just above the basal condyle ; the fourth, however, is 

 imperforate. In addition to its basal support the first spine has 

 a " chain-link " articulation with the first radial element; the 

 second a " hook-link " articulation, the hook * being developed 

 from the hinder margin of the distal end of the second radial 

 element, and curving forwards so as to hook into the foramen in 

 the base of its spine ; the third, like the fourth, has a simple 

 condylar articulation with its supporting radial element, although 

 its base is perforate. 



Posterior Dorsal fin. — In this fin there are nine radial elements 

 and eight soft fin-rays. "With the exception of the ninth, which 

 has neither a distal segment nor a fin-ray, all the radial elements 

 are bisegmental, and each supports a fin-ray. The fiu-rays are 

 cleft basally, and clip the distal segments of their respective 

 radial elements. 



Three vestigial unsegmented radial elements are present in 

 the somewhat considerable interval which separates the two 

 dorsal fins. 



Anal fin. — There are ten bisegmental radial elements and 

 thirteen fin-rays. The proximal segment of the first element 

 * Vide AnarrMchas lupus, p. 573. 



