84. CENTRARCHID.E CENTRARCHUS. 463 



This is a very natural and peculiar group, but its claim to recognition 

 as a distinct family is questionable, as the only character of iin])ortance 

 which separates it from Scrranidw is tlie rudimentary character of the 

 pseudobranchijc. There is a strong analogical resemblance between 

 the Centrarchidcv and the Gichlidce. 



{Pcrcida;, group Grusiina, pt. Giiuther, i, 256-2G1.) 



a. Dorsal fin scarcely larger than anal; gill-rakcrs verv long and slender. 



b. Spinous dorsal longer than soft ^lart, the spines about 12; anal spines usually 8. 



Cextuauchus, 242. 

 hb. Spinous dorsal shorter than soft jiart, the spines 5-8, anal spines G. 



PoMOXYS, 243. 

 act. D«rsal fin much larger than anal ; gill-rakers shorter. 



c. Body comparatively short and deep; dorsal fin not deeply divided. 

 d. Tongue and pterygoids with teeth ; mouth largo. 

 e. Scales ctenoid; caudal emarginate. 

 /. Operculum emarginate behind; anal sjiines 5-7. 



(J. Branchiostcgals 7 AncnoPOTKS, 244. 



(jg. Branchiostcgals 6 Ambloplites, 245. 



ff. Operculum ending in a black convex process or flap; anal spines 3. 



CH^JfOBUYTTUS, 246. 



ee. Scales cycloid; caudal fin convex Acaxthauchus, 247. 



d. Tongue and pterygoids toothless; mouth small. 



h. Candal fin convex ; operculum emarginate behind. 

 i. Dorsal fin continuous; dorsal spines normally 9; anal spines 3. 



Enneacanthus, 248. 

 ii. Dorsal fin angulated, some of the middle spines higher than the 



posterior ones; dor-al spines 10; anal 3 Mesogonistius, 249. 



hli. Caudal fin emarginate; operculum prolonged behind in a convex 



process or flap, which is always black Lepomis, 250. 



cc. Body elongate; dorsal fin low, deeply emarginate; moiith large; caudal emar- 

 ginate MiCROPTERUS, 251. 



242.— CEIVTKARCMUS Cuvier & Valenciennes. 



(Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Xat. Poiss. iii, ()2, 18J9: type Lahrus irideiis Lacdpede.) 

 Body short and deep, compressed. Mouth moderate, tlie lower jaw 

 the longei^; maxillary with a well-developed supplemental bone. Teeth 

 on vomer and palatines. Opercle emarginate behind. Gill-rakers seti- 

 form, verj" long, linely dentate, in large number (20-30 of the large ones). 

 Fins large; the dorsal and anal fins about equal in extent, the soft por- 

 tion of the latter longest and most posterior, the two fins being obliquely 

 opposed; dorsal fin with the spinous part longer than the soft part, of 

 about 12 spines, which are not rapidly graduated; anal fin with about 

 8 spines. Sf'.ales large, not strongly ctenoid. {/.s>Tpov, spine; aoxoc, 

 anus, from the development of the anal spines.) 



723. ('. tii»erO'e»t«rHS (Lac.) .Tor. 



Body ovate, strongly compressed. Ilend small. IMouth moderate, 

 very oblique, the maxillary reaching pupil. Preopercle and preorbital 



