CENTEARCH1D.E. 91 



B. A superbranchial cavity. (Labyrinthici.) 

 Pelvic bones ankylosed to clavicles ; dorsal, anal, 



and ventral fins with spines 12. Ospiiromenid.E. 



Pelvic bones connected with clavicles by ligament ; 



dorsal, anal, and ventral fins with spines . . 13. Axaiuntid^e. 

 Pelvic bones connected with clavicles by ligament ; 



fins without spines 14. Ophiocepiialid.e. 



II. Ventral fins inserted much behind vertical of base of pectorals. 



A. Ventral fins with one spine and 5 soft rays ; two dorsal fins, well separated 



from each other. (Percesoces.) 



1. Pectoral fin inserted high up the side. 

 Pelvic bones free or connected with the clavicles by 



ligament ; teeth conical 15. Atherinid.E. 



Pelvic bones suspended from the postclavicles ; 



teeth minute, setiform, or absent 1G. Mugimd/E. 



2. Pectoral fin much nearer the ventral than the dorsal outline of the 



body. 



Pelvic bones suspended from the postclavicles ; 

 pectoral fin with a lower portion consisting of 

 free rays 17. Polynemid^. 



Pelvic bones not connected with scapular arch ; 



dentition very powerful 18. SphyRjENIDvE. 



B. Ventral fins reduced to one spine and one or two soft rays. (Gastrostei.) 

 No scales ; dorsal fin with isolated spines . . . .19. GASTROSTEiuiE. 



III. Ventral fins in front of vertical of base of pectorals. (Jugulares.) 

 Ventral fins with not more than 4 rays ; body naked 



or with very small scales 20. Blenniid^:. 



Family 1. CENTRARCHID^). 



Perciform fishes with the suborbitals not produced into a subocular 

 lamina, with teeth on the palate, separate lower pharyngeal bones, gill- 

 membranes free from isthmus, 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays, and two 

 nostrils on each side. Spinous dorsal well developed ; soft portion of 

 dorsal not more developed than anal ; latter with 3 or more spines. 

 Prsecaudal vertebrae with transverse processes from the third or fourth to 

 the last ; ribs, all but the last or last two sessile, inserted on the centrum 

 behind the transverse process. 



Fresh and brackish waters of North America. The genus Kuldia 

 irregularly distributed over the coasts of East and South Africa, the 



