56 PEECID.E. 



B, Jau'S ivith a lateral mies of larger teeth, or with canines. 



1 . With caii/ites. Snout very short, rouuded ; fins partly elon- 



gated ; dorsal with eleven spines ; operculum spiniferous ; 



priuoperculuni entire -2- C'allanthias. 



2. With a lateral series of larger teeth. 



a. Opereiifm// spiniferous ; spines of the fins simder. Form 



of body cylindrical ; dorsal deeply notched, the fii-st 



portion w-ith nine sijines; prseoperculum serrated; 



scales small 3. Paralabrax. 



/;. Opereulwm not armed ; spines of the fins very strong. 



Form of body rather elevated ; dorsal deeply notched, 



the first portion with ten spines ; scales rather small. 58. Anoplus. 

 e. Operculum indistinctly armed; based kcdf of the dorseil 



fin scaly. Form of the body compressed, oblong; 



one dorsal, with ten sphies ; scales moderate, not 



serrated ; caudal deeply forked 59. Oi^oktonectes, 



IV. Numher of the branchiostegah varying between Jive and sia\ 



No t-anme or palatine teeth. Two dorsals, united at the base 

 only ; the first with nine spines, the anal with three ; no 

 distinct armatiu-e on the opercles ; scales moderate 54. PEiiciLiA. 



These genera may be combined into more natural groups. In 

 these groups one or other of the manifold characters predominates, 

 without being applicable to every member of the group. If we foUow 

 C^l^der and make the categories strictly depend upon one character, 

 then we are obhged to separate Perca and Percichthjs, merely because 

 the former has seven, the latter sometimes six branchiostcgals — or 

 Grammistes and lihypticus, merely because in the former the spinous 

 part of the dorsal is more developed, and separated from the soft one 

 by a deep notch — or Apogon and CJiihdipto-us, because in one there 

 are conspicuous canines ; and yet there are no fishes more closely 

 allied than those of the three pairs mentioned. When we become 

 acquainted hereafter with more generic forms, then the Percielm will 

 be di\4dcd mto many groups or families yyiXh. more exact characters ; 

 and the following natiu-al combination is merely an attempt at a 

 systematic division of these fishes. 



I. Group with the type of Perca. — Mostly freshwater fishes, or 

 sea fishes entering the rivers. Fonn of the body oblong, rarely 

 cylindrical or elevated. Opercles .strongly denticulated or armed. 

 Scales conspicuouslj^ ctenoid, small, or of moderate size. Cleft of 

 mouth horizontal or slightly oblique. Mostly with two dorsals ; the 

 number of spines constant in the species of one geniLs. Ilarely more 

 than ten pyloric appendages. Fercina. 



1. Perca. 7. Psammoperca. 13. Boleosoma. 



2. Percicitthys. 8. Percalabrax. 14. Aspro. 

 o. Paralabrax. 9. Acerina. 1.5. Etelis. 



4. Labrax. 10. Percarina. 10. Centropomus. 



5. Lates. 11. Lucioperca, 17. Niphon. 



G. Cnidon. 12. PiLEQMA. 18. Enoplosus. 



