IQ4> DULES, &C. 



are known, inhabitants of the ocean, and variously 

 distributed. Many of them possess brilliant 

 colouring. 



/>w/es— resembles Centropristes, but has only 

 six rays in the gill membranes. The opercle is 

 spined. Several species are known, and there is 

 a slight distinction in one portion having the 

 dorsal fin perfectly entire, whereas the others have 

 a slight notch or division between the spined and 

 soft parts. An example of the first will be found 

 in D. auriga, a native of the Brazilian Seas, so 

 named, or by the French " cocher," from the third 

 spine of the dorsal fin being much elongated, and 

 supposed to resemble a whip. Of the other divi- 

 sion, a species from Java will shew the form, 

 D. marginatus, a small fish, of delicate silvery 

 colouring, and having the second dorsal fin tipped, 

 and the tail doubly banded at the end, with deep 

 black. 



Therapon — has the anterior row of teeth upon 

 the jaws stronger than the others. Before the 

 vomer there is a single row, which fall with 

 facility when touched. The dorsal fin is deeply 

 cleft; the preopercle and suborbitary bones are 

 toothed, and the opercle is terminated by a spine 

 stronger than almost any other of the family. The 

 swimming bladder is contracted in the centre, a 



