234 Phthinobranchii 
the extinct family Urosphenidea, scaleless, but otherwise similar. 
Urosphen dubia occurs in the Eocene at Monte Bolca. Urosphen 
Fic. 184.—Trumpet-fish, Aulostomus chinensis (L.) Virginia. 
is perhaps the most primitive genus of the whole suborder of 
Hemibranchit. 
The Snipefishes: Macrorhamphoside.—Very remarkable fishes 
are the snipefishes, or Macrorhamphoside. In these forms 
Fic. 185.—Japanese Snipefish, Wacrorhamphosus sagijue Jordan & Starks. 
Misaki, Japan. 
the snout is still tubular, with the short jaws at the end. The 
body is short and deep, partly covered with bony plates. The 
dorsal has a very long serrated spine, besides several shorter 
ones, and the ventral fins have one spine and five rays. 
The snipefish, or woodcock-fish, Macrorhamphosus scolopax, 
is rather common on the coasts of Europe, and a very similar 
species (AZ. sagifue) occurs in Japan. The Rhamphoside, re- 
presented by Rhamphosus, an extinct genus with the ventrals 
further forward, are found in the Eocene rocks of Monte 
Bolea. khamphosus vastrum has minute scales, short dorsal 
and the snout greatly attenuate. 
The Shrimp-fishes: Centriscide.—One of the most extraor- 
dinary types of fishes is the small family of Centriscide, found 
in the East Indies. The back is covered by a transparent 
bony cuirass which extends far beyond the short tail, on which 
the two dorsal fins are crowded. Anteriorly this cuirass is 
