NOMENCLATURE AND MORPHOLOGY. 123 



the same size, except some in the upper jaw, which are directed 

 inwards and backwards. Tlie vomer lias in front a large arrow- 

 headed group of minute villiform teeth ; and the pahite-bones 

 have on each side a long and rather broad patch of similar 

 teeth. The pharyngeal teetli resemble those of the jaws in size 

 and form. The tongue is large and thick behind ; thin, narrow 

 and rounded in front, smooth and tolerably free. 



" The preopercle is nearly semicircular at its angle, which is 

 smooth or not serrated, but the ascending border is slightly 

 emarginate above the angle. The opercle is subtriangular, with 

 its base before and apex behind, and emarginate. The sub- 

 opercle is quadrilateral, and extends as far back as the opercle. 

 The interopercle is rounded below, and ascends for some distance 

 between the preopercle and the opercle. The head is covered 

 with scales above and at the sides as far as the posterior margin 

 of the orbit, but the superior maxillary bone is naked. The gill 

 openings are very large ; there are 7 branchial rays. 



"The dorsal fin is very large and long; it begins rather 

 behind the base of the pectoral, and is single, though deeply 

 emarginate; its anterior portion has 9 spines, partially received 

 in a groove ; the posterior or soft portion of the dorsal fin is 

 more elevated and has 14 articulated rays. The pectoral is 

 broad, but short and rounded behind ; it arises rather before the 

 termination of the opercle, and has 14 rays. The ventral begins 

 nearly even with the pectoral fin and is shorter ; it has 1 spine 

 and 5 soft rays, the internal of which is bound to the belly for 

 half its length. The anal arises nearly in a line vertical with 

 the root of the third dorsal ray, and has 3 spines and 12 

 branched rays. The caudal is large, broad, slightly crescentic, 

 and has 19 rays. 



"The scales are nearly semicircular in shape, with the 

 diameter in front, straight and marked with 12 radiating lines. 

 The lateral line is concurrent with the back, and runs along the 

 superior fourth of the body ; its scale is narrower behind than 

 the others, and its excretory duct is placed obliquely. 



