FAMILY PERCID.E. 41 



GENUS LEPISOMA. 



Body and fins scaly. Fleshy filaments along the basal line of the head, and on the orbits. 

 A single dorsal fin. Branchial rays six. Teeth in the jaws, vomer and palatines. Ventrals 

 before the pectorals. 



Obs. It is with much hesitation that I place this genus at the end of the jugular section of 

 this family. In its general aspect, it might readily be referred to the families Scienidae or 

 Labridas ; but the presence of vomerine and palatine teeth exclude it from them. 



THE CIRROUS LEPISOMA. 



Lepisoma cirrmosbm. 

 plate xxx. fig. 94. — (cabinet of the lyceum.) 



Characteristics. Soft portion of the dorsal higher and shorter than the spinous part. Length, 

 six and a half inches. Florida. 



Description. Body oblong, compressed, gradually tapering behind. Height at the pectoral, 

 to its total length, as one to four nearly ; at the tail, as one to twelve and a half. Scales 

 moderate, rounded, finely striate on their free surfaces, with a smooth membranous margin, 

 and with about twenty radiating plaits ; the scales cover all parts of the body, and ascend far 

 up the dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins. The lateral line commences at the upper angle of 

 the branchial aperture, curves above the pectoral fin, and rather abruptly descends opposite 

 the ninth dorsal ray, when it goes off straight : it is composed of a series of short tubes ; the 

 scales through which it passes are notched on their edges. Head somewhat arched on its 

 facial outline, corrugated, and destitute of scales. Along the basal line of the head, on each 

 side, are nine or ten fleshy processes, ending in bifid or trifid filaments, two-tenths of an inch 

 long. Another fleshy process arises from beneath the upper margin of the orbit, which sub- 

 divides into six or eight smaller processes, each of which terminates in several slender fila- 

 ments, not thicker than the finest thread, and some of them more than half an inch long. 

 Eyes moderately large, 0.35 in diameter, and rather less than their diameters apart. The 

 posterior nostril small, with a valvular margin ; the anterior with a fleshy valve, through 

 which is pierced the nasal aperture ; its posterior elongated, and terminating in six or eight 

 filaments. Opercle and preopercle rounded and smooth on their margins. Branchial mem- 

 brane large, extending loosely around the throat, with six rays ; the upper ray projecting 

 behind the opercle in the form of a spine ; a membrane subtended between this, and a weak 

 subspinous process near the upper angle of the aperture. Lips fleshy. The mouth ample, 

 opening as far back as the posterior margin of the orbits. Chin with numerous mucous 

 pores. The lower jaw with a series of about thirty teeth ; those in front, stout, blunt, sub- 



Fauna — Part 4. 6 



