118 ORDER ACANTH0PTEKYG1I. 



been denned by Artedi and Linnaeus ; but there are 

 many fish which approximate to this genus, although 

 certain characters oblige us to make separate genera 

 of them. 



We begin with the percoides with less than seven 

 branchial rays. These may also be subdivided ac- 

 cording to the number of their dorsal fins and the 

 nature of their teeth. 



In those with a single dorsal fin some are found 

 which, amongst others, have hooked teeth ; these 

 are 



Cirrhites, Commers. 



Which, like the mesoprions, have the preoperculum 

 denticulated, and the operculum terminated in a blunt 

 angle, and are to be distinguished by having the lower 

 rays of the pectoral fins, which are thicker and not 

 branched, extending a little beyond the membrane. 

 They have only six rays to the gills. All of them in- 

 habit the Indian seas 1 .' 



Other of these percoides with less than seven bran- 

 chial rays, have none but even teeth, or at least, are 

 destitute of hooked teeth. 



4 Cirrkite tachete, Lacep. v. 3. which is also his Labremarbre, III. 

 v. 3. and p. 192. Cirrhite panther in, or Spare pantherin, ib. iv. 6. 1. 

 and p. 100. and Seb. iii. 27. 12. Cirrhites vittaius, Cuv. Renard i. 

 18. 102. Cir. aprinus, Cuv. and Val. iii. 47., &c. 



