700 TELEOSTEI CHAP. 



rays. Spinous dorsal shorter than the soft ; anal without spines. 

 Back and sides with bony, prickly plates. 



HoiMclithys, \f\t\\ a single species from the coasts of Japan 

 and China. Bemlras, with two species from the coasts of 

 Japan, appears to be related to it, but the skeleton is still 

 unknown ; it differs in having the body covered with small 

 scales and the gill-membranes free. 



Fam. 9. Agonidae. — Head completely cuirassed, usually 

 with spines ; basis cranii simple ; two nostrils on each side. 

 Gill-membranes free or attached to isthmus ; gills 3|- ; pseudo- 

 branchiae present. Vertebrae 35 to 50 ; ribs sessile. Post- 

 temporal fused with ttie skull ; scapula and coracoid in contact 

 with each other, or separated by a cartilaginous space ; pectoral 

 rays inserted on the scapula and 3 or 4 plate-like pterygials. 

 Ventral fins close together, with 1 spine and 2 soft rays. 

 Spinous dorsal shorter than the soft, or absent ; anal without 

 spines. Body covered with bony plates. 



Small fishes, mostly from the coasts of the Northern Atlantic 

 and Pacific, extending into the Arctic Ocean ; one species from 

 the coast of Chili. Bathyagonus occurs in the North Atlantic 

 between 350 and 477 fathoms. 



About 40 species are known. Principal genera : Agonus, 

 Ago7Wj)sis, Bathyagonus, Aspidoplwroides. The " Pogge," or 

 Armed Bullhead {Agonus catajjliractus), is the only British species 

 of this family. 



Fam. 10. Triglidae. — Head completely cuirassed, with 

 spines ; basis cranii double ; parietal bones meeting on the 

 median line ; two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes free : 

 gills 4; pseudobranchiae present. Vertebrae 25 to 40, the 

 anterior praecaudals with sessile ribs, the posterior with trans- 

 verse processes. Post-temporal fused with the skull; scapula 

 and coracoid separated by a cartilaginous space ; pectoral rays 

 inserted on the scapula and on 4 large plate-like pterygials, of 

 which two are in contact with the coracoid ; 2 or 3 of the 

 lower pectoral rays detached, forming feelers. A'^entral fins 

 widely separated, with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. Spinous 

 dorsal shorter than the soft ; anal without spines. Body covered 

 with scales or bony plates. 



Marine fishes from all warm and temperate regions, some 

 occurring in deep water. They are remarkable for the 



