PERCH-LIKE FISHES 115 



snout. The mouth is protrusible, of large or moderate size, 

 and the jaws are armed with rows or dense bands of pointed 

 teeth, which are usually present also on the roof of the mouth. 

 The dorsal fin has a spinous portion in front, which either 

 merges into the hinder soft portion or is separated from it by 

 a more or less deep notch. The caudal fin is usually supported 

 by 17 principal rays, of which 15 are branched. The pectoral 

 fins are rounded or pointed, with narrow bases. There is no 

 scaly process at the root of each pelvic fin. A lateral line is 

 present, which does not extend on to the caudal fin. The 

 air-bladder is usually small. 



The Sea Perches represent a large and varied family, and 

 are found in almost all tropical and temperate seas. A few 

 members live in brackish or fresh water. Fossil remains date 

 back to the Eocene period. 



STONE BASS OR WRECK-FISHES. 



(Genus Polyprion.) Fig. 39. 



Sea Perches with a robust body, covered with very small, 

 rough scales, with prickly edges. The head is armed with 

 rough spiny crests, and there is a strong bony ridge across 

 each gill-cover, which ends behind in a stout spine. The 

 mouth is large, and the lower jaw projects beyond the upper. 

 There are broad bands of small, pointed teeth in the jaws, 

 but no larger canine teeth in front ; there is a patch of teeth 

 on the tongue. The single dorsal fin has 11 or 12 stout spines 

 and a like number of soft-rays ; the spinous part of the fin is 

 longer than the' soft. The anal fin is short, with 3 spines and 

 8 or 9 soft-rays. The hinder edge of the caudal fin is rounded 

 or square-cut. The pectoral fins are short, and the pelvic fins 

 are situated below the bases of the pectorals. The full-grown 

 fish are greyish-brown or stone-coloured, and the caudal fin is 

 edged with white ; young individuals are irregularly marbled 

 with large pale blotches. 



Grow to a length of 6 or 7 feet and a weight of more than 

 150 lb. 



Two species are known : the Common Stone Bass or Wreck- 

 fish (P. americanus), from the North and Middle Atlantic and 



