84. CENTRARCHID^ - CENTRARCHUS. 463 



This is a very natural and peculiar group, but its claim to recognition 

 as a distinct family is questionable, as the only character of importance 

 which separates it from Serranidce is the rudimentary character of the 

 pseudobranchire. There is a strong analogical resemblance between 

 the CentrarcJiidw and the Cichlidcc. 



(Percidw, group Gryslina, pt. Giinther, i, 256-261.) 



a. Dorsal fin scarcely larger than anal ; gill-rakers verv long and slender. 



b. Spinous dorsal longer than soft part, the spines about 12; anal spines usually 8. 



CEXTRAKCHUS, 242. 

 bb. Spinous dorsal shorter than soft part, the spines 5-8, anal spines 6. 



POMOXYS, 243. 

 art. Dsrsal fin much larger than anal ; gill-rakers shorter. 



c. Body comparatively short and deep; dorsal fin not deeply divided. 

 rf. Tongue and pt cry golds with teeth; mouth large. 

 e. Scales ctenoid; caudal emargin ate. 

 /. Operculmn emargmate behind; anal spines 5-7. 



ff. Brauchiosiegals 7 ................................ ARCHOPUTES, 244. 



gg. Branchiostegals 6 .............................. AMBLOPLITES, 245. 



ff. Operculum ending in a black convex process or flap; anal spines 3. 



ClLENOBKYTTUS, 246. 



ee. Scales cycloid; caudal fin convex ................. ACAXTHARCHUS, 247. 



d. Tongue and pterygoids toothless; mouth small. 



h. Caudal fin convex; operculum emarginate behind. 

 i. Dorsal lin continuous; dorsal spines normally 9; anal spines 3. 



ENNEACANTHUS, 248. 



ii. Dorsal fin angulated, some of the middle spines higher than the 

 posterior ones; dor-al spines 10; anal 3 ...... MESOGONISTIUS, 249. 



Jth. Caudal fin. emarginate; operculum prolonged behind in a convex 

 process or flap, which is always black ............... LEPOMIS, 250. 



cc. Body elongate; dorsal fin low, deeply emarginate; mouth large; caudal emar- 

 giuate ........................................ MICROPTERUS, 251. 



242. CENTRARCHUS Cuvier & Valenciennes. 

 (Cuvicr & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. iii, 62, 18^9: type Labrus irideus Lace"pede.) 



Body short and deep, compressed. Mouth moderate, the lower jaw 

 the longer; maxillary with a well-developed supplemental bone. Teeth 

 on vorner and palatines. Opercle emarginate behind. Gill-rakers seti- 

 form, very long, finely dentate, in large number (20-30 of the large ones). 

 Fins large; the dorsal and anal fins about equal in extent, the soft por- 

 tion of the latter longest and most posterior, the two fins being obliquely 

 opposed; dorsal fin with the spiuous part longer than the soft part, of 

 about 12 spines, which are not rapidly graduated; anal fin with about 

 8 spines. Scales large, not strongly ctenoid, (xsyrpov, spine; 

 anus, from the development of the anal spines.) 



C. macB'ogitcrus (Lac.) Jor. 

 Body ovate, strongly compressed. Head small. Mouth moderate, 

 very oblique, the maxillary reaching pupil. Preopercle and preorbital 



