150 ORDER ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



tral buckler is divided into two, which, besides the 

 spines, have two very small rays. 



We think we may place at the end of this family 



Oreosoma, Guv. 



Small oval fish, with the body bristling, both above 

 and beneath, with large cones of a horny substance, 

 which make, as it were, hills upon them ; there are 

 four of these cones on the back, and ten on the belly, 

 in two ranks, with many small ones between these 

 ranks. 



It has been brought from the Atlantic Ocean by 

 Peron \ 



The third family of the acanthopterygians, that 

 of the 



ScLENOIDES, 



Is very similar to that of the percoides, and presents 

 nearly all the same combinations of exterior charac- 

 ter, especially the denticulations of the preoperculum, 

 and the spines of the operculum ; but it has no teeth 

 either on the vomer or palatines ; in general the bones 

 of the cranium and face are cavernous, and form a 

 snout more or less rounded. It often occurs in this 

 family that the vertical fins are rather scaly. 



There are sciaenoides with two dorsals, and others 



A figure, and detailed description of it will be found in the fourth 

 volume of our Ichthyology. Oreosoma, mountainous body. 



