436 SPARIDiE. 



hiding the basal portion of the fin. The distance between the dorsal 

 and caudal fins is 8f in the total length, and much more than the 

 height of the tail below the extremity of the dorsal. The mvxlal 

 fin is sHghtly emarginate, with the lobes rather rounded ; its length 

 is nearly one-sixth of the total. Stripes of minute and transparent 

 scales extend over the greater half of the interspaces between the 

 rays. The anal is very short, the length of its base being 2| in its 

 distance from the caudal ; its origin faUs vertically below the second 

 dorsal ray, and its end below the eleventh. The fii-st spine is one- 

 haLf the length of the second, the second is one-half of the third, the 

 third two-thirds of the second and third rays, which are the longest, 

 and about Ig in the length of the head ; the base of the fin is scaly. 

 The pectoral fin is rounded, and equals the head in length. The 

 six lower rays are simple, not distinguished fi'om the others in 

 length or in thickness. The ventmh are shorter and do not reach 

 to the vent ; they are inserted below the middle of the pectoral ; 

 their spine is two-thii'ds of the total length of the fin. 



The scales are small, longer than high, not ciliated at their oiiter 

 margin ; one of the largest covers one -fifth of the eye. 



The teeth are placed in a band in the upper jaw and in a single 

 series in the lower ; they are compressed and rather elongate, with 

 a lobe at the extremity and with two on each side. There are no 

 vomerine or palatine teeth. 



The qromid-colour is brown ; body and tail with indistinct and 

 interi-upted darker longitudinal stripes ; a darker vertical spot below 

 the eye ; the notch of the operculum black, white-edged anteriorly ; 

 the pectoral and ventral fins are blackish, the caudal and anal fins 

 variegated with lighter. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 5 10 



Length of the head 1 2 



Height of the body 1 7 



Diameter of the eye 3J 



Length of the sixth dorsal spine 6 J 



Interspace between dorsal and caudal fins . . 8 



Length of a caudal lobe 1 



of the second anal ray 11 



of the pectoral 1 2 



of the ventral 11 J 



of a scale 1 if 



Height of a scale li 



Third Group. SARGINA. 



Sparkioe with cutting teeth in front of the jaws and molars on 

 the sides. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Molar teeth in several series 14. Saegus. 



Molar teeth in a single series 15. Chabax. 



