Berycoidei 257 
sesses the orbitosphenoid bone and is a true berycoid, while 
the Mullide are genuine percoid fishes. 
Four species of Polymixia are recorded from rather deep 
water: Polymixia nobilis from Madeira, Polymixia lowet from 
the West Indies, Polymixia berndti from Hawaii, and Poly- 
mixta japonica from Japan. All are plainly colored, without 
red. 
The Pine-cone Fishes: Monocentride.—Among the most ex- 
traordinary of all fishes is the little family of Monocentride, 
or pine-cone fishes. Monocentris japonicus, the best-known 
species, is common on the coasts of Japan. It reaches the 
length of five inches. The body is covered with a coat of mail, 
made of rough plates which look as though carelessly put 
together. The dorsal spines are very strong, and each ventral 
fin is replaced by a very strong rough spine. The animal fully 
justifies the remark of its discoverer, Houttuyn (1782), that 
it is ‘‘ the most remarkable fish which exists.” It is dull golden 
brown in color, and in movement as sluggish as a trunkfish. 
A similar species, called knightfish, Monocentris glorie-marts, 
is found in Australia. No fossils allied to Monoceniris are 
known. 
—17 
