294 PISCES. 



wards, the first dorsal very short, but with a formidable spine on the first ray, the second dorsal long, the 

 pectorals large, and a strong' spine on the operculum. These fishes lie in the mud, and inflict severe wounds 

 with their dorsal spine, which the fishermen believe has a poisonous quality, but it is merely rugged, and lacerates 

 an ill-conditioned wound, similar to what is inflicted by the antler of a Stag. Percis, which resemble the Weevers, 

 and inhabit the warm seas, have crooked teeth on the maxillaries and the vomer, but none on the palatal bones. 

 Pinguipes, also of the warm seas, more sluggish than the preceding genus, with the teeth strong and conical, 

 fleshy lips, and teeth on the palate. Percophis, with the body very long, some of their teeth long and pointed, and 

 the lower jaw much advanced. 



One very remarkable genus of Percida; is Uranoscopus, the Star-gazer, so called because the eyes are placed 

 on the upper surface of the nearly cubical head, and directed toward the heavens. Their-pre-operculum is toothed 

 on the lower part ; their mouth is cleft vertically ; they have a strong spine on each shoulder, and only six rays 

 on each gill. Within their mouth, behind the tongue, is a narrow slip which they can protrude, and with which 

 they attract small fishes, while themselves are concealed in the mud. Their gall bladder is of immense size. 

 One species, U. scaler, inhabits the Mediterranean, but none of the others are European. This is a very ugly fish, 

 but still it is eaten. 



The third division comprises the Abdominal Percidae, or those which have the ventral fins behind 

 the pectorals. 



One genus has them still partially attached to the bones of the shoulder. This is Polynemus (many fillets), so 

 called because the inferior rays of their pectorals are filled and extended into long threads. Their teeth are in part 

 velvety, like those of the true Perches, and partly also like those of a Carp, and they have them on the maxillaries, 

 the vomer, and the palate. Their snout, however, is rounded, and the vertical fins are scaly. They are found in 

 the waters of warm countries, and one, P. paradiseus, of a beautiful yellow colour, with seven filaments from the 

 fin on each side, at least twice as long as the body, is the celebrated " mango fish" of the Ganges, reckoned 

 the most delicious in India. Most of the other species have the filaments shorter, but the flesh of all of them is 

 excellent. 



The following genera have the ventrals still farther behind, and the bones of the pelvis quite detached 

 from the bones of the shoulder. Of these there are several : — 



Sphyrana, the Sea Pike, which has been confounded with the Esox or True Pike. They are large 

 fishes, with an oblong head and projecting under jaw. There are several species inhabiting the warmer 

 seas, and one, S. barracuda, is as much dreaded as the 'White Shark. Para/epis, small fishes, resembling 

 the last genus in general characters, but with the second dorsal fin small and fleshy. Mullus, the Sur- 

 mullet, a very celebrated genus, and held in much estimation by epicures. These fishes must not be 

 confounded with the Mullets properly so called, which give name to another family, and are typical of 

 it, being very different in form and appearance from the Surmullets. The latter have the body thick and 

 oblong, with the profile of the head nearly vertical, the eyes far up, teeth in the lower jaw and palate only, two 

 cirri inwards at the lower jaw, and but four rays in the gills. There are two species, both of which are European, 

 the Striped Red Mullet, M. surmulatus, which is not very uncommon on the southern coast of England ; and the 

 Plain lied Mullet, M. barbatiis, which, though named as a British fish, is chiefly found in the Mediterranean. 

 Both species are delicious eating ; and the luxurious Romans used to feast their eyes with the changes of colour 

 in the Red Mullet when dying, before they devoured its flesh. Upeneus is a genus of the tropical seas, with teeth 

 in both jaws, but none in the palate. They have only four gill-rays, like the Surmullets, but have also an air- 

 bladder, which the latter are without. These complete the family of the Percida;, as now known. 



THE SECOND FAMILY OF ACANTIIOPTERYGII. 



Fishes with Hard Cheeks. 



This family comprehends a number of fishes of which the appearance of the head is singular, being 

 variously mailed, or defended by spines and scaly plates of hard matter ; but they have many characters 

 in common with the Percidot. Their principal distinction consists in the suborbital bone being 

 more or less extended over the cheek, and articulated with the operculum. The Star-gazer is the only 

 genus of the Perch family which resembles them in this respect ; but in it, though the suborbital bone 

 is very broad, it is connected posteriorly with the temporal bones, and not with the operculum. 



The following are the principal genera : — 



Trigla, the Gurnards, so called from the sounds which they utter with their gill-lids when taken out of the water. 

 They have an immense suborbital plate, to which the operculum or gill-lid is articulated by an immoveable suture, 

 so as to be incapable of separate motion. They have the head vertical in the sides, hard and rough bones, two 

 distinct dorsals, three free rays under the pectorals, twelve coeca, and an air-bladder of two lobes. The Gurnards 

 properly so called, have small teeth in both jaws, and in front of the vomer, together with large pectorals, 

 but not suiliciently so for raising them out of the water, like those of the Flying Fishes. There are many species 

 found in the temperate seas, which, though in estimation for the table, are inferior in this respect to the Sur 

 mullets. The English species are T. cucidus, the Red Gurnard, with strong plates in the cheeks, the body 



