664 TELEOSTEI CHAP. 



Fam. 21. Haplodactylidae. No subocular shelf; entoptery- 

 goid present ; palate usually toothless. Vertebrae with trans- 

 verse processes from the third or fourth ; all the ribs attached to 

 the transverse processes when these are present ; anterior epi- 

 pleurals strong. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes 

 free from the isthmus ; 5 or 6 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a 

 slit behind the fourth ; pseudobranchiae present. Lower pharyn- 

 geal bones separate. Soft portion of the dorsal fin much more 

 developed than the anal. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft 

 rays, inserted far back behind the pectorals, the lower rays of 

 which are simple and more or less thickened. 



This family embraces the genera Haplodactylus, Chilodactylus, 

 Chironemus, and Threpterius, with some 3 species from the seas of 

 the Southern Hemisphere arid Japan. They feed chiefly on crusta- 

 ceans, .molluscs, and other invertebrates living among sea- weed. 



Fam. 22. Pristipomatidae. No subocular shelf; entoptery- 

 goid present ; palate toothless. Vertebrae with transverse pro- 

 cesses from the third ; all the ribs attached to the transverse 

 processes. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes free from 

 isthmus ; 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a slit behind 

 the fourth ; pseudobranchiae present. Lower pharyngeal bones 

 separate. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. 



Pristipoma, Hctemulon, Diagratnma, and Pentapus, distributed 

 over all the tropical and subtropical seas, a few entering fresh 

 waters. About 130 species are known. 



Fam. 23. Sparidae. Second suborbital with an internal 

 lamina supporting the globe of the eye ; entopterygoid present ; 

 palate usually toothless ; teeth often either cutting in front, or 

 molar-like on the sides. Vertebrae with transverse processes 

 from the second or third ; all the ribs attached to the transverse 

 processes. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes free from 

 isthmus ; 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a slit behind 

 the fourth ; pseudobranchiae present. Lower pharyngeal bones 

 separate. Soft portion of dorsal fin not much more developed 

 than the anal. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. 



The Sea-Breams embrace some 200 species, distributed over 

 the coasts of nearly the whole world. Some are herbivorous, but 

 the majority are carnivorous. 



Principal genera : Scolopsis, Dentex, Synagris, Caesio, Maena, 

 OUata, Melainbaplies, Girella, Doydixodon, Cantharus, Box, 



