PRINCIPAL FAMILIES OF FISH. 27 



several genera. Serranus, Genyoroge, Mesoprion, 

 etc., and Ambassis, the latter are small fishes, and 

 are found in fresh water. 



Pris tipomatidce. 



These form a large family, mostly found in salt 

 water, in the tropical regions. They are large, hand- 

 some fishes. Several genera, for instance, Therapon, 

 Diagramma, Datnoides, etc., are represented in Indian 

 seas. 



Mullidce. 



That delicious fish, the Reel Mullet, belongs to this 

 family, it inhabits European seas. 



Squamipinnes. " Scaly-finned fishes." 



This family consists mostly of bright-coloured 

 fishes, with bodies very deep in comparison to their 

 length, and very narrow, with small mouths, inhabit- 

 ing tropical seas. The Chcetodons, and Holocanthi, 

 form good Indian examples. This family is distin- 

 guished by the scales extending over a large portion 

 of the dorsal and anal fins. 



Triglidce. Gurnards. 



Are a large family, containing a great variety of 

 fishes of extraordinary shapes and coloration, mostly 

 marine. The British Gurnards, Bullheads, Miller's 

 thumb, the Indian Dactylopterus, or Flying Gurnard, 

 Pterois, Scorpoena, and Platycephalus, are included in 

 this group. 



Trachinidce. 



The fishes of this family are generally of a long 





