52 SARGUS OVIS. 



The nostrils are double ; the posterior and larger is a narrow, elliptical fissure, 

 nearly horizontal, but a little higher behind, and placed near the o)-bit, though 

 about the median plane of the eye ; the anterior is small, round, and on the same 

 level, but nearer the mesial line. 



The mouth is small, as it does not extend as far back as the anterior nostril ; 

 the lips are thick and fleshy, but not protractile. The lower jaw is rather shorter 

 than the upper, and both are armed with four incisor and two canine teeth ; the 

 latter are turned inwards ; within these are two or three series of short, stout, sub- 

 conical teeth, round at their tips, and disposed like paving-stones. There are 

 neither vomerine nor palatine teeth ; but the pharyngeal bones are provided with 

 numerous conical, pointed, recurved teeth. The tongue is soft, smooth, thick, 

 round m front, and but slightly movable. 



The pre-opercle is rounded at its angle, with its ascending border nearly ver- 

 tical, or but slightly directed forwards, and is marked with depressions and radi- 

 ating elevations. The opercle is narrow in the antero-posterior direction, and 

 terminates behind in an obtuse angle ; it is covered with scales, but the rest of the 

 head is smooth, except a patch of four or five rows of scales, which run from the 

 anterior margin of the pre-opercle, between the posterior part of the orbit and the 

 commissure of the mouth. The gill-openings are large ; there are five branchial 

 rays. From the supra-scapular ascends fonvards a remarkable row of large scales, 

 that marks the limit of the head ; in front of this row are two or three series of 

 smaller scales. 



The dorsal fin is single, elevated, large, and preceded by a short recumbent spine, 

 often concealed by flesh ; it begins with the pectoral, and ends behind with the 

 anal ; it has twelve spines, the anterior short, and the fifth longest ; they are all 

 convex in front, concave behind, flattened at the sides, or ensiform in shape, and 

 all are received in a groove when the fln is closed ; the soft portion is round at its 

 extremity, and has twelve rays, with their inferior fifth protected by a wall of 

 scales, but without any attachment. The pectoral is long, narrow, sub-falciform. 



