NO. 1179. CHARACTERS OF PERCESOCJES— STARES. 



Apparently but two basi brancliials ossified; botli iii front of third 

 arcb, the hypobrancliials of which meet on a median line. 



Suspensory pharyngeal represented only by a nodule of cartilage. 



First epibranchial typical. The three succeeding ones of complex 

 shape, somewhat turned back upon themselves with many curves and 

 processes. 



To superior part of second epibranchial a rather thick triangular 

 superior pharyngeal is attached. 



Superior^ to all else is a large pharyngobranchial of very complex 

 shape. It is attached to and above the last three epibranchials and 

 even to and above pharyngobranchial of second arch. Tt is doubtless 

 the anchylosed pharyngobranchials of third and fourth arches. For 

 ease of describing, it may be said to consist of a superior and an 

 inferior j)art. The inferior, to which the epibranchials are attached, 

 runs straight back to last arch. Springing from its anterior end a thin, 

 imperforate, saucer-shaped superior bone arches widely over it, project- 

 ing both laterally and posteriorly. This upper part is further supported 

 at its middle, umbrellalike, by a ray of bone sent up from posterior 

 end of inferior part. 



Hyoid apparatus typical in number and arrangement of elements. 



Branchiostegals six, two attached to epihyal, four to ceratohyal ; all 

 attached to outer surface of hyoid. 



Maxillary and premaxillary rather narrow and slight. Premaxillary 

 widened at lower end, and without supplemental bone. Respective 

 sides of maxillary rather widely separated by unusually wide processes 

 of premaxillary sent backward at its symphysis. 



N"asals short and quadrangular in shape. 



Suborbitals forming a narrow ring, through Avhich is the usual sensory 

 canal. 



Preorbital triangular, its lower edge sharply dentate. 



Vertebral formula : Abdominal 11, caudal 12, which, with the hypural, 

 number 24. 



First five vertebrae with neural spines flattened laterally and forming 

 a more or less continuous crest. 



Parapophyses very large; wide and thin at the edges. Developed 

 on all abdominal vertebrae, growing gradually larger and more nearly 

 horizontal anteriorly, until the third is reached, thence scarcely dimin- 

 ishing in size to the atlas. 



A process developed from each anterior zygapophysis, which is anky- 

 losed with its fellow of the opposite side, forming an arch over neural 

 cord, and extending obliquely forward to neural spine. 



A spine developed from each posterior zygapojihysis pointing 

 obliquely backward and overlapping outer edge of that from anterior 

 zygapophysis. 



'The arches described as straightened out for examination, not as in natural posi- 

 tion with the superior pharyngeals turned downward. 



