Salmopercae and Other Transitional Groups 249 



post temporal has been independently derived. The anterior 

 vertebrae in Zeus, as in Ch&todon, are closely crowded together. 

 In the Zeidce the spinous dorsal is well developed, the body 

 naked or with very thin scales, and provided with bony warts 

 at least around the bases of dorsal and anal fins. The species 

 are mostly of small size, silvery in color, living in moderate 

 depths in warm seas. The best-known genus is Zeus, which is 

 a group of shore-fishes of the waters of Asia and Europe. The 

 common John Dory (called in Germany Harings-Konig, or 

 king of the herrings), Zeus faber, abounds in shallow bays on 

 the coasts of Europe. It reaches a length of nearly a foot, 

 and is a striking feature of the markets of southern Europe. 

 The dorsal spines are high, the mouth large, and on the sides 

 is a black ring, said by some to be the mark of the thumb of 

 St. Peter, who is reported to have taken a coin from the mouth 

 of this species. A black spot on several other species is asso- 

 ciated with the same legend. 



On the coasts of Japan abounds the Matao, or target-fish 

 (Zeus japonicus], very similar to the European species and 

 like it in form and color. Zenopsis nebulosa and Zen itea also 

 occur on the coasts of Japan. The remaining Zeida (Cyttus, 

 Zenopsis, Zenion, etc.) are all rare species occasionally dredged 

 especially in the Australian region. Zeus priscus is recorded 

 from the Tertiary, and Cyttoides glaronensis from the upper 

 Eocene of Glavus. 



Grammicolepidae. The Grammicolepidcu, represented by a 

 single species, Grammicolepis brachinsculus, rarely taken off the 

 coast of Cuba, is related to the Zeidaz. It has rough, ridged, 

 parchment-like scales deeper than long. The ventrals are 

 thoracic, with the rays in increased number, as in Zeus and 

 Beryx, with each of which it suggests affinity. 



