07. EPHIPPIDJE CH.ETODIPTERUS. G13 



species, closely related to the Chcetodonts, but said to show important 

 differences in the skeleton. Fishes mostly of largo size, in \varm seas, 

 .sometimes entering rivers.- 



part; genera Scatophagus, EpMppus, and Drcpanc, Giinther, ii, 57-65.) 



a. Anal spines 3; dorsal spines 8 or 9, the third prolonged; prolile very steep ; scales 

 small ............................................... Ci-i-ETODiPTErtus, 3-J7. 



327. CILffiTTODHPTERUS Lace"pede. 

 ( Parcphip2)U8 Gill. ) 



(Lacepedc, Hist. Nat. Poiss. iv, 50J, 181)2: typa Cluetodon plumicri Bloch Chcctodon 

 falter Brouss.) 



Body much elevated and compressed, its outline nearly orbicular, the 

 anterior profile nearly vertical. Scales small, 55-70 in the course of the 

 lateral line. Jaws about equal; no teeth on voiner or palatines; teeth 

 on jaws slender, somewhat movable; preopercle finely serrulate. Bran- 

 chiostegals G. Dorsal fins 2, somewhat connected, the first of usually I' 

 spines, the third of which is elongate ; anal spines c", small, the second 

 the longest; ventral with a large accessory scale. Pyloric ccsca 4-0. 

 American, distinguished from the Asiatic geaus EpMppus by the very 

 much smaller scales, (zat-odwv, Chretodon; <Jc?, two; -rzpuv, fin, the 

 dorsal being divided.) 



2, C. f:abeD* (Brouss.) J. & G.Anr/vl-fislt ; Porrjee. 

 Grayish ; a dusky band across the eye to the throat ; a second similar 

 band, broader, beginning in front of the dorsal and extending across the 

 base of the pectoral to the belly; a third band, narrower, extending to 

 the middle of the sides, from the base of the fourth and fifth dorsal 

 spines; a fourth broader band from the last dorsal spine to the anal 

 spines, the remaining bands alternately short and long; all of these 

 bands growing obscure and disappearing with age; ventrals black. 

 Vertical fins low in the young, lalcate in the adult. Third dorsal 

 spine nearly as long as from eye to edge of preopercle, its membrane 

 blackish; chin with a row of pores; preorbital nearly as wide as eye; 

 pectoral considerably shorter than ventral, the first soft ray of the latter 

 filamentous. Head 3-3}; depth L. D. YIH-I, 20; A. Ill, 18; Lat. 

 1. GO; coeca 4-6. L. 2 feet. Warm seas; north to San Diego and JSTew 

 York; abundant on our South Atlantic coast; an excellent food-fish. 

 Very large specimens, which we suppose to be old individuals, but which 

 may possibly be a distinct species (Epliippus yiyas Cuv.), have the occi- 

 pital crest and anterior interliajmals developed in thick bony masses. 



(CJicEtorlon fabcr Broussonet, Ichth. Decas. 1, v. t. 4, 1782: Chcctodon falter Gmel. Syst. 

 Nat. i, 1263, 1789: Zeus quadratus Gmel. I.e. 1225; Giiuther, ii, 61: Epldppus yigas Cuvier, 



