ANALOGIES OF THE GYMNETRES. 49 



Analogies of the Gymnetres and the CoRYPH^NiDiE. 



Sub-families of the > , . Families of the 



CoryphcEibidcz. Analogies. Gymnetres. 



r Ventral fin large, fully deve-1 

 CoR\PHixiN^. •< loped, and generally longer J- Trachypterid^. 



Stromatix^. 



'Ventral fin large, fully deve-' 

 loped, and generally longer ' 

 than the pectoral. J 



r Ventral fin very small imper- ? Gymnetrid^. 

 (_ feet, or entirely wanting. 3 

 r Dorsal and anal fins very"^ 

 AsTRODERMiN^ s long, and excessively broad ; >-Pteraclid^, 

 C ventral very small. 3 



ACAXTHCRIN^. [ ^"^:°ti'^^ ^^^^ ^"""^^^ ^^^^ '^°'^ ] STYLEPHORID^. 



TBACH..W.. { 'rhetl pofn?eT"^ "'"""^ ^ ] Ophidoxio.. 



To any ichthyologists acquainted with the forms now 

 brought under comparison^ it would be altogether super- 

 fluous to attempt any additional illustration in support of 

 four out of the five of these analogies^ for nothing in^ 

 nature can possibly be more striking. The very fact of 

 our being able to render the analogical characters so 

 definite^ is, perhaps, the best proof that the two groups 

 are natural, for no author has ever had the idea that 

 these resemblances were relations of affinity. The re- 

 lation, however, between Stylephorus and Acanthurus is 

 not so striking : but then it must be remembered that 

 the first is only composed of one species ; so that, in fact, 

 we are completely ignorant of what other forms the fa- 

 mily might, or do, contain. Certain it is, however, that 

 these two have the smallest mouths in their respective 

 circles ; and Jhat the end of their tail is armed with 

 spines, although placed in a. different position, and of 

 different forms. Besides, as all the others agree^ so 

 completely in possessing absolute characters in common, 

 hyper-criticism may be spared on this point. If other- 

 wise, and the analogy between Stylephorus and Acanthurus 

 be denied, we shall fall back upon our affinities, and 

 then refer the objector to the Regne Animal, where he 

 will find Stylephorus arranged, without the least expres- 

 sion of doubt, among the riband fish. But let us examine 



VOL. II. E 



