ACVXTIIOPTERYGII. 293 



THE FIRST FAMILY OF THE ACANTHOPTERYGII. 

 Pekcid.e dhe Perch Family). 

 These fishes have the body oblong, covered with hard or rough scales, with the gill-lid or gill-flap, or 

 often both, toothed or spinous in the m;: \ The species are very numerous in the waters of all 



warm countries ; their flesh is in general agreeable and wholesome ; they are mostly thoracic, or have 

 the ventral fins under the pectoral, and they are subdivided according to the number of gill rays. 

 The first division have seven rays in the gills, two dorsal fins, and all their teeth are relrety. 

 .ier makes use of this expression as descriptive of very minute teeth, set closely together 

 in numerous rows, and thus resembling the pile of velvet in arrangement though not in texture.] 

 This division comprises various species, of which the following are the principal genera: — 



Perca, including the Common Perch of Europe, and various other species of North America and other places ; 

 Lahrax, the Ba**e, a marine genus, of which species are found both in Europe and in America ; Latet, the Perch 

 of the Nile, of which there are also species in the Indian rivers ; Centropomut, the "ea Pike, which has the oper- 

 culum obtuse and without spines ; Grammittit, an Indian genus, with white longitudinal stripes, and a black 

 ground ; Arpro, the River Perch, found chiefly in the Rhine ; Zingel, a peculiar Perch of the Danube, with thirteen 

 spines in the first dorsal. 



This subdivision also comprehends some fishes of foreign countries, whose peculiarities cause several subgenera. 

 These are, Huro, like a true Perch, only the pre-operculum is not toothed ; Etelit, with hooked teeth in the jaws, 

 but not in the palate ; Xiphon, with strong spines on the pre-operculum and operculum ; Enopiotm, like a Perch, 

 but with body much compressed, two high dorsals, and the pre-operculum deeply toothed ; Di/.lorion, compressed, 

 double-toothed border to the pre-operculum, and two spines on the gill-lid. Other species of this subdivision are, 

 ■on, small fishes, of a red colour, with two dorsals far apart, and large scales, easily separated. One of them, 

 the Kin? of the Mullets, or Beardless Mul'et, is found in the Mediterranean ; Cheilodipterut, resembling the former, 

 tut with long teeth in the jaws ; and Pomatomut, a very rare genus, of small size, with immense eyes, and 

 exceedingly small teeth, velvety in their arrangement. 



A second subdivision have two dorsal fins, but long and pointed teetb, mingled with a velvety 



arrangement. 



Of these the principal genera are Ambattit, with the dorsals near each other, and a spine in front of the former ; 

 they are small fishes of the warm regions of the East, abundant in pools and rivulets, and sometimes prepared as 

 Anchovies : and Lucio-perca, the Perch-Pike, with long teeth on the maxillarie s, ajd^a nd also in the palate, found 

 in Eastern Europe. 



The second division of the Perches bave seven rays in the gills, but only one dorsal fin ; the genera 

 are arranged by the characters of their teeth, and the leading ones are these : — 



Serraniu, the Sea Perch ; Anthiai, the Barber, a beautiful red fish of the Mediterranean, with metallic reflec- 

 tions ; Merotu, the Great Perch, and some varieties. 



Distinct froDi these are several srenera, PUctrtpoma, Diacopiu, iletoprion, Acerina, Ryptiau, Polyprion, 

 Centropritfit, and Grxtte*. These inhabit different parts of the world, and some of them are beautiful fishes. 



The Percidae with less than seven giil-rays. are arranged according to the number of their dorsal 

 fins and the characters of their teeth. 



With a single dorsal, some have hooked teeth among the other ones, as Cirrkitet, which inhabit the Indian 

 Ocean, and ha'. ■ - ■ rs have only small teeth, among which there are the following genera, Ciiro- 



nemiu, Pomotit, Centrachtu, Priarcanthxu, Dttler. atet, and Elotet. These are chiefiy fishes of the 



warm countries, some of the fresh water and others of the sea : their colour is in general silvery, marked with 



blackish longitudinal lines. 



• 



There are two genera of Percidae which have les* than six gill-rays and two dor~ 



These cenera are Trirkodon, a native of the North Pacific ; and Sillago, found in the Indian Ocean. One of 

 the latter is supposed to be the finest fish in India. 



We now pass on to other Percidae. which have more than seven gill-rays, and seven soft rays 

 a spine in their ventrals, the other .Icanthopterygii having never more than five - 

 The cenera. Iloloeentrum, ityriprittit, Bervr, and Trackicktkyt, all of which are brilliant fishes of the warm 

 • have the air-vessel divil 



A . the Percidae hitherto mentioned have the ventrals immediately under the pectorals : but there 

 are others which have them differently placed. 



The Juqular Percidx have the ventrals upon the throat farther forward than the pel Ther 



comprehend the fo! g - I : — 



Trackings, ll - .u the head compressed, the eyes near each other, the mouth obliquely up- 



