51 



Fam. 3. PERCID^. 



Percoidei, pt., Cin: lit'i/ne Anlm. ; Cuv. i^- Vul. ii. p. 1 ; MUller, lierl. 



AhhundUj. 1844, p. 201. 

 Percidce, pt., Owen, Led. Coinp. Aiuit. Vert. i. p. 49. 

 Percidae et Theraponidre, pt., Richardson. 



Body generally oblong, and covered with ctenoid scales ; lateral 

 line continuous*. Mouth in front of the snout, with lateral cleft, 

 rarely at the lower side. E)-e lateral. iUl or some of the opercles 

 serrated or armedf. Sevenor six brauchiostegalsj. Dentition com- 

 plete ; teeth pointed, in villiforra bands, with or without canines ; 

 teeth either on the vomer, or on the vomer and palatine bones. No 

 l)arbels§. Cheek not cuirassed. Dorsal fin foraied by a spinous 

 j)ortion and by a soft ; ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five 

 soft rays. Stomach cgecal ; pyloric appendages generally in small 

 number. Swira-bladder present, simple |j. Intestines little folded. 



Carnivorous fishes, inhabiting the fresh waters and seas of all 

 parts of the globe. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



The following Synopsis is merely to facilitate the determining the 

 position which a species of fish takes in the system of the Percoids 

 known at ])resent, whilst in the description itself a series has been 

 adopted which is thought best adapted to the natural relations of the 

 genera. Without fuUy repeating the diagnoses of the genera, it would 

 have been impossible to follow the same succession in tMs Sj-nopsis, 

 and it would have failed in accomplishing the purpose above named. 

 Thus it is not intended to give, in the single categories of the Synopsis, 

 the forms most closely allied to one another, but certain forms are 

 brought together by an artificial method. Fiaally, I consider the 

 number of the spines to be a natural generic character, which, simple 

 as it is, has hitherto been neglected in the definition o{ genera. 



A. Anomalous genei'a. 



With a barbel. Two dorsals ; operculum spiniferous, proe- 

 operculum denticulated ; scales imbedded in the skin ... 30. PofioxoPERCA. 



No teeth at all on the palate. Natural characters of 



Serranus 2."i. Prionodes. 



B. Normal genera. 



I. Seven hranchiostegaJs. 



A. All the teeth vHUform, without canines. 



* Some species of Ambassis excepted. t Except Apsilus. 



X Cfr. Pereilia. § Except Pogonoperca. 



II In Pileoma and Bokosoma absent. 



e2 



