2 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
PHYSOCLYSTI ELEUTHEROGMTHI. 
Physoclysts ivitli the edge of the upper jaiv composed only of the comparatively free intermaxillary bones , with the 
branchial arches complete and the branchial lamince pectinated. No externally visible interclavicles. 
With the advancement of development in the Tele- 
ostei the intermaxillary bones assume a more and more 
important position in the formation of the upper jaw. 
In the Eleutherognates the intermaxillary bones remain 
independent, whereas in the Plectognates they are united 
with the superior maxillaries, at the same time as the di- 
visions of the lower jaw, the dental and the angular, coa- 
lesce into one whole. The Plectognates, which are repre- 
sented in the Scandinavian Fauna by only two rare species, 
Balistes and Orthagoriscus, are well qualified, as far as 
this character goes, for a higher place in the system, 
the coalescence of the jaw bones being an unmistakable 
sign of a more highly advanced degree of metamor- 
phosis. However, in other respects, — in the marked 
development of the exoskeleton, combined with the slight 
ossification of the endoskeleton — they have retained 
so much that reminds one of more ancient types, 
that hitherto they have generally been placed lowest 
among the Teleostei. It has been left to modern 
systematists to correct this mistake, and to show their 
close relationship to the most typical Physoclysts a . The 
Eleutherognates differ from the Hemibranchii, which are 
represented in our Fauna by the sticklebacks, in the 
completeness of their branchial arches as well as in 
the absence of interclavicles, and from the Lopho- 
branchii, in our Fauna the group of the pipefishes, in 
the pectination of their branchial lam i me. 
In the Eleutherognates the strengthening of the 
fins, especially of the dorsal and anal, by an increased 
number of spinous rays, is one of the most regular 
indications of an advanced stage of piscine development. 
Consequently from the time of Cuvier onwards the 
spinous-rayed Eleutherognates or Acanthopterygii have 
generally been placed highest among the Teleostei. This 
division of the Eleutherognates may be distinguished 
by the fact that in the front part, at least , of the dorsal , 
anal and ventral fins there are simple unarticulated and 
undivided hard rays. Foremost among these fishes we 
shall place a series of families of which the well-known 
wrasses may be considered typical. 
LABROMORPHL 
Eleutherognates with the lower pharyngeals united to each other. 
In the systems of Johannes Muller and most 
subsequent ichthyologists, these fishes have been named 
Pharyngognathf in consequence of the union of the lower 
pharyngeals, a character by which Artedi also defined 
his genus Labrusf and Cuvier the family Labroides d . 
The rest of the Eleutherognates might therefore well 
lie called Lysipharyngii , if there be need of a cor- 
responding name for them, though the difference does 
not seem to be of sufficient importance to justify us in 
referring the Pharyngognates to a special order, as 
Muller and Gunther have done*. However, the Pha- 
ryngognates possess one mark of a special modification 
of the Acanthopterygian type, which appears only occa- 
sionally in the Lysipharyngii. This is the fact that the 
masticating power of the mouth and pharynx is in- 
creased both by the union of the hover pharyngeals and 
by the stronger teeth with which these bones as well 
as the jaws are armed. This apparatus has reached its 
highest point of development in the exotic family of 
Parrot-wrasses, as represented by the Scarus and simi- 
lar forms. 
If furthermore we have regard to the great splen- 
dour of colour by which many of the Pharyngognates 
are distinguished, we seem fully justified in following 
the lead of Sundevall/ who was the first to place the 
Pharyngognates highest, as far as development goes, in 
° Cope, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., Pliilad., n. ser. vol. XIV, art. V, p. 458. 
h Muller: Uber den Bau und die Grenzen der Ganoiden and ilber das naturliche System der Fische, Abh. d. Berl.-Akad. 1844, 
Phys. Kl., p. 199. 
c Artedi: Genera Piscium, p. 33. 
d Cuvier: R'egne Animal , riouv. ed., Tome II, p. 254. 
e Muller, 1. c. and Gunther, Brit. Mus. Cat., Fish., vol. IV, p. 1. 
J In the arrangement of the collection of fishes in the Royal Museum of Stockholm. Cf. Cope, 1. c., where the same view is taken. 
