55 



/3. Scales small. 



aa. Praoperculum with the lower limb smouth. 



aa. Tcefh on the 'palatines. Dorsal generally w'itb 

 nine or eleven spines, anal with tlu-ee ; oper- 

 culum spiuiferous 26. Serran us. 



/3/3. "No teeth on the palatines 24. Anyperodon. 



bb. Praopercuhan with spinous teeth beneath. Number 

 of spines of the vertical fins variable ; operculum 

 spiniferous 27. Plectropoma. 



II. Number of hrancluostegals varying bettveen seven and sir. 



A. Two dorsals. The first with nine spines, anal with three. 



Operculum spiniferous, prrooperculum and praeorbital 



serrated. Scales small, head covered with scales above. 2. Pekciciithys. 



B. One dorsal. With ten spines, anal with three ; operculum 



with two points, pivcoperculum with a single smooth 

 ridge. Scales moderate. The number of the pyloric 

 appendages increased 51. Grystes. 



III. SLv bruncMostegals. 

 A. All the teeth villiform. 



1. Two dorsals. 



a. Scales deciduous. Pra3operculum with a double denticu- 



lated ridge ; the first dorsal with seven, the anal with 

 three spines, a recumbent spine in front of the dorsal, 

 pointing forward 42. Ambassis. 



b. Scales adherent. 



* D. with 14 or 15 spines. Opercles not denticulated ; 



operculum with one point 12. Pileoma. 



* D. with 9 spines. Opercles not denticulated ; opercu- 



lum with one point 13. Boleosom a. 



* D. with 6 spines. Opercles not denticulated ; opercu- 



lum with two points 53. Huro. 



2. 0)ie dorsal, 

 n. Scales moderate, finely or minutely serrated. 



a. Opercidum with a membranaceous coloured lobe above 

 the angle. 



aa. No teeth on the palatine bones 57- Pomotis. 



bb. Teeth on the palatine bones 56. Bryttus. 



p. Operculum without a membranaceous lobe. 



aa. The number of the anal spines variable, mostly more 

 than three. Teeth on the palatine bones and on 

 the tongue ; operculum with two flat points ; prre- 



operculum scarcely denticulated 55. Centrarchus. 



bb. Three anal »pines. Dorsal with ten spines ; oper- 

 cidum spiniferous : praeopercidmn serrated... 60. Dules. 

 f>. Si'ales small, rough. Chin very prominent, snout covered 

 with ctenoid scales, eye large ; pra;operculum with pro- 

 minent crenulatcd angle; dorsal with ten, anal with 

 thi-ee spines 41 . Pkiacanthi-.s. 



