BERYCID^. 



Fam. 2. BERYCIDiE. 



Form of body oblong or rather elevated, compressed ; eyes lateral, 

 large ; cleft of mouth extending on the sides of the muzzle, more or 

 less oblique ; villiform teeth in both the jaws, and generally on the 

 palate. Eight or four branchiostegals. Opercular bones more or less 

 armed. Scales ctenoid, seldom bony, or wanting. Ventral fins 

 thoracic, with more than five soft rays, in one genus with less. 

 Cfeca pylorica in increased number. 



Tropical and temperate seas. 



The genera of this most natural family have been improperly 

 scattered by Cuvier in the famihes of Triglidte and Percidse. Lowe 

 was the fii'st who defined this group, in his admirable work on 

 the " Fishes of Madeira." He overlooked, however, the genus 

 EhyncJiichthys, apparently a less aberrant form than Monocentris, 

 which may be considered as a connecting link with the first family. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Scales forming a bony mail; several isolated 



spines in front of the dorsal fin 1. Monocentris. 



One dorsal. No vomerine teeth. Abdomen ser- 

 rated 2. HOPLOBTETHUS. 



One dorsal. Vomerine teeth. Abdomen sen-ated. 3. TnACHiCHXHYS. 



No scales 4. Anoplogasteh. 



One dorsal. Vomerine teeth. No barbel 5. Bebtx. 



Two barbels 6. Polymixia. 



Two dorsals. Prseopercular spine none 7. Myriphistis. 



Two dorsals. Prffiopereular spine. Jaws etjual, 



or the lower prominent 8. Holocentrum. 



Two dorsals. Praeopercular spine. Snout pro- 

 jecting beyond the mouth 9. Rhynchichthts. 



1. MONOCENTRIS. 



(lasterosteus, sp., Huuttuyn. 



Scifena, sp., Tliunhcry. 



Monocentris, Bl. Schn. p. 100; Ctiv. $: Val. iv. p. 401. 



Lepisacantlius, Lacep. iii. p. 321. 



Muzzle blunt, rounded, protniding, with the cleft of mouth 

 beneath ; eye moderate. Villiform teeth in both the jaws and on 

 the palatines, but none on the vomer. Eight branchiostegals. 

 Opercular l)ones scarcely denticulated ; suborbital bones with radi- 

 ating bony ridges. Scales very large, bony, forming together a mail. 

 Several isolated spines in front of the dorsal. Ventrals reduced to a 



