84. CENTRARCniDJi: CENTRARCHUS. 
463 
This is a very natural and peculiar group, but its claim to recognition 
as a distinct family is questionable, as the only character of im])ortance 
which separates it from Serranidce is tlie rudimentary character of the 
pseudobranchim. There is a strong analogical resemblance between 
the Centrarcliidcc and the Gichlidcc. 
(Percidcp, group GrijsUna, pt. Gunther, i, 256-2G1.) 
a. Dorsal fin scarcely larger than anal; gill-rakers very long and slender. 
b. Spinous dorsal longer than soft ^lart, the spines about 12; anal spiues usually 8. 
Centiiahciius, 242. 
hb. Spinous dorsal shorter than soft part, the spines 5-8, anal spines 6. 
POMOXYS, 243. 
««. Dorsal fin much larger than anal ; gill-rakers shorter. 
c. Body comparatively short and deep; dorsal fin not deeidy divided. 
d. Tongue and pterygoids with teeth ; luouth large. 
e. Scales ctenoid; ctiudal emarginate. 
/. Operculum emarginate behind; anal spines 5-7. 
y. Branchiostegals 7 Archopi-ITES, 244. 
gg. Branchiostegals 6 Ambloplites, 245. 
ff. Operculnm ending in a black convex process or flaj>; anal spines 3. 
Ch^nobryttus, 246. 
ee. Scales cycloid; caudal fin convex Acaxtharchus, 247. 
d. Tongue and pterj^goids toothless ; mouth small. 
h. Caudal fin convex ; operculum emarginate behind, 
i. Dorsal fin continuous; dorsal spiues normally 9; anal spines 3. 
Enneacanthus, 248. 
a. Dorsal fin angnlated, some of the middle spines higher than the 
posterior ones; dor-al spines 10; anal 3 Mesogoxistius, 249. 
hh. Caudal fin emarginate; operculum prolonged behind in a convex 
process or flap, which is always black Lepomis, 250. 
cc. Body elongate ; dorsal fin low, deeply emarginate; mouth large; caudal eniar- 
giuate Micropterus, 251. 
242. — CENTRARCHUS Cuvier & Valenciennes. 
(Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. iii, 62, 18:29: type Lahrus irideus Lac^pfede.) 
Bodj" short ami deep, compressed. Month moderate, tlie lower jaw 
the longer; maxillary with a well-developed supplemental bone. Teeth 
on vomer and palatines. Opercle emarginate behind. Gill-rakers seti- 
form, very long, finely dentate, in large number (20-30 of the large ones). 
Fins large; the dorsal and anal fins about equal in extent, the soft por- 
tion of the latter longest and most posterior, the two fins being obliquely 
opposed; dorsal fin with the spinous part longer than the soft part, of 
about 12 spines, which are not rapidly graduated; aual fin with about 
8 spiues. Scales large, not strongly ctenoid, {xivrpov, spine; 
anus, from the develoi^meut of the anal spines.) 
723. C. (Lac.) .Jor. 
Body ovate, strongly compressed. Head small. Mouth moderate, 
very oblique, the maxillaiy reaching pupil. Preopercle and preorbital 
