452 FISHES. 



bucklers on any part of the body. Two anal spines ; ventral 

 fins composed of one spine and six or eigbt rays. 



Three species are known from Madeira, South Australia, 

 and New Zealand. 



Fourth Family — Steomateid^e. 



Body more, or less oUong and compressed, covered with very 

 small scales; eye lateral. Dentition very feeble; cesophagvs 

 armed with numerous horny, harled processes. No bony stay 

 for the prceoperculum. Dorsal fin single, long, without distinct 

 spinous division. More than ten abdominal and more than 

 fourteen caudal vertebras. 



This small family consists of strictly marine and partly 

 pelagic species referred to two genera, Stromateus and Centro- 

 lophus. The former lacks ventral fins, at least in the adult 

 stage, and is represented by about ten species in almost all 

 the tropical and warmer seas. Oentrolophus, hitherto known 

 from two or three European species only (of which one occa- 

 sionally reaches the south coast of England, where it is named 

 " Black-fish "), has recently been discovered on the coast of 

 Peru, and has probably a much wider range. 



Fifth Family^ — CoRYPHiENiDiE. 



Body compressed; eye lateral. Teeth small, conical, if 

 present ; (esophagus smooth. No bony stay for the prceoper- 

 culum. Dorsal fin single, long, without distinct spinous divi- 

 sion. More tlian ten abdominal and more than fourteen 

 caudal vertebrce. 



All the members of this family have pelagic habits. Ee- 

 presentatives of it have been recognized in some fossil 

 remains : thus Goniognathus from the Isle of Sheppey, and the 

 living genus Mene (Gastrocnemus) at Monte Bolca. 



CoRYPHiENA. — Body compressed, rather elongate ; adult speci- 

 mens with a high crest on the top of the head ; cleft of the mouth 



