546 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 
tbe spines strong, usually depressible into a groove. Anal fin similar to 
soft dorsal, with 3 spines. Yentrals thoracic, I, 5, commonly with an ac 
cessory scale-like appendage. Caudal fin rounded or forked. Lateral 
line continuous, not extending upon tlie caudal fin. Pyloric cOeca few or 
many. Air-bladder present, usually simple. Genera 55; species about 
450, abounding in the seas of temperate and tropical regions. Those 
with incisor teeth only are chiefly herbivorous, the others carnivorous. 
The three principal subdivisions given below have been often taken as 
separate families. 
iSparidw, Fristlpomatidoe aud Percidos pts. Giinther, i, 175-211, 272-339, and 412-499, 
exclusive of certain genera.) 
a. Teetb all conical and x)ointed ; no incisors nor molars, preopercle serrate ; pyloric 
coecafew; carnivorous. 
}). Vomer with teeth. 
c. Dorsal fin deeply emarginate ; teeth all villiform, in narrow hands. (Xenich- 
tlujince) Xenichthys, 281. 
cc. Dorsal fin continuous; canines more or less developed. (Lufjanuice.) 
Lutjanus, 282. 
l>b. Vomer, palatines, and tongue toothless, 
d. Dorsal fin continuous. 
e. Caudal fin lunate or forked ; profile convex. {Pristipomatince.) 
f. Mouth small ; dorsal aud anal fins naked or scaly at base only. 
POMADASYS, 283. 
//. Mouth large; soft parts of dorsal aud anal densely scaly throughout. 
Diabasis, 284. 
ee. Caudal fin convex ; profile concave. (Lohotince.) 
li. Jaws with hands of villiform teeth, in front of which are a series of 
larger ones ; no teeth on vomer or palatines. 
Lobotes, 285. 
aa. Teeth on the sides of the jaws molar ; preopercle entire ; pyloric coeca few ; no teeth 
on vomer, palatines, or tongue; carnivorous. (Sparinw.) 
j. Front teeth conical, not at all compressed Spares, 28G. 
jj. Front teeth compressed, incisor-like ..Diplodus, 287. 
aaa. Teeth in front incisor-like ; no molars ; i)yloric coeca many ; herbivorous. 
m. Vomer toothless; fins mostly scaleless. (Girellince.) 
n. Incisors trifid ; cheeks scaly ; opercles naked ; dorsal 
spines 14 or 15 Girella, 288. 
' mm. Vomer with teeth; soft fins densely scaly; incisors lanceo- 
late. {Pimeleptcriim) 
0 . Incisors with horizontal backward-projecting roots, the 
hand of small teeth behind them narrow. 
Pimelepterus, 289. 
00 . Incisors without evident roots, the band of small teeth 
broad; soft dorsal aud anal many-rayed, much longer 
than spinous dorsal ScoRPis, 290. 
2§1.— XEWICHTIIYS Gill. 
(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, 82: type Xenichthijs xanti Gill, from Lower 
California.) 
Body moderately elongate, subfusiform, compressed ; head conic, little 
compressed; eyes large, anterior; preorbital rather narrow, oblique; 
