HETEROLEPIDOTIDiE. 



491 



notiis {setigerus) from Indian Seas, with some of the anterior 

 dorsal rays prolonged into fila- 

 ments; and JTemerocoetes (acan- 

 ihorhynchus) from New Zealand, 

 and sometimes found far out at 

 sea on the surface. 



Third Family — Hetero- 

 lepidotid^. 



Body oblang, compressed, scaly ; 



Pig. 222. 



cleft of the mouth u^g ^^ 



-Scale from the lateral 

 Hemerocoetes aoantho- 

 rhynchus, with lacerated margin. 



eyes lateral ; 



lateral ; dentition feeble. The 

 angle of the prceoperculuni connected hy a hony stay 'with the 

 infraorbital ring. Dorsal long, with the spinous and soft por- 

 tions equally developed; anal elongate. Ventrals thoracic, with 

 one spine andflve rays. 



Pig. 223. — Chirus Jiexagramrmcs, from Japan. 



Small shore-fishes, characteristic of the fauna of the 

 Northern Pacific, some of the species occurring on the American 

 as well as Asiatic side. They have been referred to several 

 genera, as 



Chirus, which is distinguished by the presence of several 

 lateral lines ; 



Ophiodon, with one lateral line only, cycloid scales, and 

 slightly armed prasoperculum ; 



Ageammxjs, with one lateral line only, ctenoid scales, and 

 unarmed prseoperculum ; and 



Zaniolepis, with one lateral line and minute comb-like scales. 



