CENTRISCIDJS. 249 



Twelth group— Acanthopterygii centrisciformes. 



Snout tubular : mouth small. Two dorsal fins, the anterior spinous and short : 

 the soft dorsal and the anal each with a moderate number of rays. Ventral fins 

 abdominal, and imperfectly developed. 



Family, XXYII— CENTRISCIDiE,^. Sleeker. 



Fishdaria, pt. Muller ; Amphisiloidei, pt. Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals three or four : pseudobranchise present. Gills four. Form of 

 body oblong or elevated and compressed. The anterior bones of the skull forming 

 an elongated tube, having a small terminal mouth. Teeth absent. Two dorsal 

 fius, the first short with one of its spines strong : soft dorsal and anal of 

 moderate extent : ventral abdominal, spineless and rudimentary. Scales, when 

 present, small : the body often covered with a cuirass or ossifications that are 

 not confluent with one another. Air-bladder large. Pyloric appendages absent 

 Vertebrae few. 



This family has been divided into two genera. (1) Gentriscus, in which the 

 body is scaled or covered with prickles. (2) Amphisile, without scales but 

 invested with a bony cuirass. 



Geographical distribution. — South coast of Great Britain to the Mediterranean, 

 coasts of Africa, Indian Ocean, North and South Pacific. 



Genus I — Centriscus, Linncetis. 



Branchiostegals four : pseudobranchice present. Body oblong or elevated and 

 strongly compressed. Teeth absent. Two dorsal fins, one of the spines of the first 

 being strong and elongated : ventral with five rays, small and abdominal. Some 

 small rough scales on the body, and narrow bony prolongations on the sides or dorsal 

 aspect, while others pass upwards to the bach: also a carinated heel along the lower 

 edge of the chest and abdomen. Lateral-line absent. Air-bladder large. Pyloric 

 'aprpendages absent. 



Geographical distribution. — This genus extends from the southern shores of 

 Britain to the Mediterranean, the Japanese waters and Tasmania. 



1. Centriscus scolopax, Plate LXIX. 



Scolopax, Rondel. De Pise, xv, c. 5, p. 422 ; Aldrov. iii, c. 13, p. 298 ; Jonston, 

 i, tit. 1, cap. 1, art. 4, t. i, f. ix. Trumpet-fish, Willughby, p. 160, t. i 25, f. 2 ; 

 Ray, p. 50 ; Couch, Liim. Trans, xiv, p. 89, Brit. Pish, iii, p. 21, pi. exxiv. 

 Solenostomus, no. 1, Klein, Miss. Pise, iv, p. 24. Snipe-nosed trumpet-fish, Penn. 

 Brit. Zool. (Ed. 1812) iii, p. 190. Silurus comutus, Porsk. p. 66. Gentriscus, sp. 

 Gronov. Zooph. no. 395. 



Centriscus scolopax, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 415; Briinn. Pise. Mass. p. 8; Bloch, 

 i, p. 55, t. exxiii, f. 1 ; Bl. Schn. p. 112; Bonn. Atl. Ich. p. 30, pi. xxi, f. 69; 

 Lacep. ii, pp. 86, 95, i, pi. xix, f. 3 ; Donovan, Brit. Fish, iii, pi. lxiii ; Turton, 

 Brit. Fauna, p. 117 ; Shaw, Nat. Misc. xiv, pi. 584, and Zool. v, p. 459, pi. clxxxi; 

 Plem. Brit. Auim. p. 220 ; Cuv. Regne Anim. ; Jenyns, Manual, p. 400; Tarrell, 

 Brit. Pish. (Ed. 1) i, p. 302, c. fig. (Ed. 2) i, p. 346 (Ed. 3) ii, p. 190; Risso, 

 Eur. Merid. iii, p. 476 ; Giu'rin, Icon. Poiss. pi. xiv, f. 2; Martens, Reise nach 

 Vencdig, ii, p. 436; White, Catal. p. 45; Gronov. ed. Gray, p. 138; Gunther, 



