CATOSTEOMI 633 



Fam. 7. Centriscidae. — Body moderately elongate, partially 

 enclosed in a bony armour, which is distinct from the endo- 

 skeleton. Anterior vertebrae elongate, with strong parapophyses 

 ankylosed to the exoskeleton ; no ribs. Sv;borbitals absent ; 

 snout forming a long tube, with small, terminal, toothless mouth. 

 Two dorsal fins, the anterior with a very strong spine. Pterygials 

 of pectoral fin very small. Ventral fins small, with 4 or 5 

 rays, the pelvic bones in contact with the postclavicles. 



Centriscus, with five species in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, 

 represents this family at the present day. C. scolopax has 

 occasionally been found on the English coast. Isolated spines 

 from the Pliocene of Tuscany have been referred to the same 

 genus. Rlia mpliosus, from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, is believed 

 to have been allied to Centriscus. 



Fam. 8. Amphisilidae. — Near the preceding, but body 

 ■extremely compressed and completely enclosed in a thin bony 

 armour which is fused with the endoskeleton ; the caudal region, 

 much abbreviated, is free and relegated to the ventral surface, 

 the body terminating in the two dorsals, of which the first bears 

 a strong spine. The ventral fins are far back, very small, formed 

 of 3 or 4 rays. 



Amphisile is represented by three or four recent species in the 

 Indian and Pacific Oceans, and two are known from Upper 

 Eocene and Oligocene beds in Europe. Dr. Arthur Willey has 

 observed these fishes in the Southern Pacific. A. strigata " lives 

 in small shoals of about half-a-dozen individuals, and swims 

 about with rapidity in a vertical position, cleaving the water 

 with its razor-shaped body." 



Fam. 9. Solenostomidae. — Body moderately elongate, with 

 large star-like ossifications. Anterior vertebrae elongate, without 

 transverse processes ; no ribs. Snout much produced, tubiform ; 

 mouth small, terminal, toothless ; no praeoperculum ; symplectic 

 elongate ; gill-opening wide ; gill-lamellae small rounded lobes. 

 Two short dorsal fins, the rays of the anterior not articulated, 

 flexible spines. Pterygials of pectoral fin very small. Ventral 

 fins large, with 7 rays, behind the pectoral arch. No air-bladder. 



The unique genus, Solenostomus, with three or four species from 

 the Indian and Pacific Oceans, may be regarded as in many 

 respects intermediate between the Centriscidae and the Syngnatli- 

 idae. In the female the inner side of the ventral fins coalesces 



