Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 1237 



of fins generally rough witli small serrae. Air bladder large. Pyloric 

 ccEca few. Vertebnu iu reduced number, 9 or 10+ 13=: 22 or 23, the first 

 vertebra being very small or absent ; transverse process beginning on 

 the seventh (sixth) vertebra, the last 2 precaudal bridged across; ribs 

 attached to the transverse processes; epipleurals absent on the last three 

 precaudal vertebr*. Supraoccipital crest very low, continued forward 

 to over front of orbit, where it is joined by the parietal crests; processes 

 of preniaxillaries moderate. Carnivorous fishes of the tropical seas, 

 chiefly iu deep waters; mostly rose-colored in life. The family is a 

 sharply defined group, not close to any other, but the affinities on the 

 whole seem to be nearest to the Serranidw and their tropical allies. 

 Genera 2, species about 10. (Percida;, group Priacanihina, Giinther, Cat., 

 1,215-221.) 



a. Scales very small, 80 to 100 in lateral line ; body oblong, its depth not half its length ; preo- 

 percle with a flat spine ; dorsal and anal each with 12 to 15 soft rays. Priacanthus, 521. 



aa. Scales large and very rough, 35 to 50 in lateral line ; body ovate, ita depth more than half 

 its length ; preopercle without spines ; dorsal and anal each with 9 to 11 soft rays. 



PSEIDOPKIACANTHUS, 522. 



521. PRIACANTHUS, Cuvier. 



Priacanlhtis, CuviEE, Regne Animal, il, 281, 1817, {macrophOialmtin). 



Scales very small, 80 to 100 in the lateral line ; body oblong, more than 

 twice as long as deep ; preopercle with a spine at angle ; interorbital area 

 externally transversely convex, the cranium itself transversely concave, 

 the elevation being formed of flesh ; a conspicuous foramen in the inter- 

 orbital area; lateral line extending upward and backward from upper 

 angle of gill opening toward second dorsal spine, below which it changes 

 its course, following outline of back to end of dorsal fin, theuce direct to 

 middle of caudal ; anal fiu rather long, its rays about III, 14; dorsal rays 

 about X, 13. Species rather numerous, in the tropical seas, (-piuv, saw ; 

 uKavdu, spine ; some of the fin spines being serrated.) 



a. Preopercular spine obsolete or nearly so; depth about equal to length of head; dorsal 



unspotted; dorsal ray.s X, 14; anal III, 15. aeek.atvs, 1624. 



aa. Preopercular spine well developed; depth of body greater than length of head; dorsal 



spotted; dorsal rays X, 12 or X, 13; anal III, 13 or 14. cruentatus, 1625. 



1624. PRIACANTHUS AREXATUS, Cuvier i Valenciennes. 



(CATALrFA.) 



Head 2| to 3^^ : depth 2f to 3.t ; eye very large, 2^ to 2+ in head. D. X, 

 14 ; A. Ill, 15 ; scales 9-98 to 115-42, pores 6S to 73. Body oblong, less 

 deep than in P. crucntatns. Snout i to i^ diameter of eye. Posterior nos- 

 trils in a single oblong opening, within which is a septum considerably 

 below the surface; gill rakers 20 to 23. Preopercle with its angle termi- 

 nating in an oblique point, smaller than the spine in P. vritentatus ; opercle 

 with a flat-pointed spine, which does not project ; both spines almost 

 obsolete; shoulder girdle above with a prominent edge; dorsal spines 

 more or less grannlato on the edges ; last dorsal spine 1? to 2 in head. 



