Zoology. 357 
that have not yet been anatomically investigated represent families— 
Caracanthide, Platycephalide, Agonide, and Rhamphocottidee—ex- 
hibiting very peculiar characters, which must be reflected in their 
skeleton, and their exact relations remain to be ascertained ; prob- 
ably none belong to any of the superfamilies now established.’ 
The families hereinafter enumerated appear to be all well entitled 
to the rank, and are characterized by various anatomical peculiarities. 
The most closely allied pair, and which perhaps need future con- 
firmation,are the Hexagrammide and Anoplopomide. All the fami- 
lies will be diagnosed and, in part, fully described in several 
memoirs Aaka for publication in the Proceedings of the United 
tates National Museum, and the anatomical characteristics of the 
crania will therein be illustrated. The comparative characteristics 
of the major groups, or superfamilies, are made known in the fol- 
lowing analytical exhibit : 
'apular arch normal, the post-temporal and postero-temporal 
forming part, and the latter intervening between the post- 
temporal and the proscapula. Infraorbital chain with all 
bones entering into tbe orbital margin and functional, only 
partially extended over the cheek; with the third bone 
hypertrophied and developed as a stay impinging on the 
anterior wall of the preoperculum; post-temporal normally 
` articulated with the epiotic and pterotic; -intermaxillines 
with well-developed ascending pedicles gliding over the 
front of the prosethmoid. 
_ Dentigerous epipharyngeals 3.3; actinosts moderate and 
inserted on posterior edges of hypercoracoid and hypocora- 
iat ribs backwards borne on enlarged parapophyses.— 
oidea 
Dentigerous epipharyngeals 1-1; actinosts large and 
aay intervening between the hypercoracoid and hypocora- 
bo 
- coid ; ribs sessile on the vertebræ.— Cottoidea. 
B. Scapular arch abnormal, the post-temporal forming an inte- 
gral part of the cranium and the postero-temporal crowded 
out of place by the side of the proscapula above or at the 
edge of the post-temporal. > 
Myodome (muscular tube) developed and cranial cavity 
open in front; prosethmoid and anteal normally con- 
nected by suture. Infraorbital chain with its anterior 
bones excluded from the orbit and functional as 
rostrolateral, the series covering the cheeks, the third 
a large buccal bone articulating with the anterior wall 
pAn examinatio i onide and Rhamphocot- 
that pince the a villa pi Se ase ie confirmed m cion 
y are severally types of distinct superfamilies Platycepha 
a 
Phang amilies P7 hali d Hoplichthyidæ), Agonoidea, and 
Nooo atda atycephalide an optic. J go we 
Be 
thyi i 
i a. Ihave been unable to secure specimens of Cara- 
Œ, and know nothing of their anatomy. 
