CLASS PISCES. Ill 



Anthias, Bl. in part. 



Are serrani, whose jaws and the tip of the muzzle are 

 armed with very apparent scales \ 

 The most remarkable species is 



Anthias sacer 2 , Bl. pi. cccxv. Cuv. and Val. ii. 31. 



Is a charming fish of a fine ruby red, changing into 

 gold and silver, with yellow bands on the cheeks ; the 

 third ray of its dorsal fin elevates itself more than 

 twice the height of the others ; its ventral fins are 

 greatly elongated, and the lobes of its caudal fins 

 terminate in threads, the lowest of which is the 

 longest 3 . 



The Merous. 



Are serrani whose maxillary bone is without scales, but 

 whose lower jaw is covered with small ones. 

 There is one in the Mediterranean. 



1 The greater part of our merous are also anthias of Bloch, but we 

 limit this genus to the species with which our definition accords. 

 Bloch has been so little particular that his anthias sacer has not even 

 the characters attributed to the genus an thias, of an operculum with- 

 out spines. 



2 This epithet was given by the ancients to their anthias, a large 

 fish very different from this. See Cuv. and Val. ii. 255. and the 

 following. 



3 A.dd Serranus oculatus, Cuv. and Val. ii. 32. and the other species 

 there described. lb. p. 262. 270. 



