546 CONTEIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



the spines strong, usually depressible into a groove. Anal fin similar to 

 soft dorsal, with 3 spines. Ventrals thoracic, I, 5, commonly with an ac 

 cessory scale-like appendage. Caudal fin rounded or forked. Lateral 

 line continuous, not extending upon the caudal fin. Pylorit coecafew or 

 many. Air-bladder present, usually simple. Genera 55; species about 

 450, abounding in the seas of temperate and tropical regions. Those 

 with incisor teeth only are chiefly herbivorous, the others carnivorous. 

 The three principal subdivisions given below have been often taken as 

 separate families. 



{_Sparidie, Pr'istipomatidoi and Percidce pts. Guntberj i, 175-211, 272-339, and 412-499, 

 exclusive of certain genera.) 



a. Teeth all conical and pointed ; no incisors nor molars, preopercle senate ; pyloric 

 cceca few; carnivorous. 

 h. Vomer with teeth, 

 c. Dorsal fin deejily emarginate ; teeth all villiform, in narrow hands. (Xenich- 



thyince) Xenichthys, 281. 



cc. Dorsal fin continuous ; canines more or less developed. (Lutjanhia'..) 



LUTJANUS, 282. 

 ib. Vomer, palatines, and tongue toothless. 

 d. Dorsal fin continuous, 

 e. Caudal fin Innate or forked; profile convex. {Pristipomatmce.) 

 f. Mouth small ; dorsal and anal fins naked or scaly at base only. 



POMADASYS, 283. 

 //. Mouth large ; soft parts of dorsal and anal densely scaly throughout. 



DiABASis, 284. 

 ee. Caudal fin convex ; profile concave. (Lohothiw.) 



h. Jaws with bauds of villiform teeth, in front of which are a series of 

 larger ones ; no teeth on vomer or palatines. 



LoBOTES, 285. 



aa. Teeth on the sides of the jaws molar ; jireopercle entire ; pyloric cceca few ; no teeth 



on vomer, palatines, or tongue; carnivorous. {Sparina',.) 



j. Front teeth conical, not at all compressed Sparus, 28C. 



jj, Front teeth compressed, iucisor-like Diplodus, 287. 



aaa. Teeth in front incisor-like ; no molars ; pyloric cceca many ; herbivorous. 

 m. Vomer toothless ; fins mostly scaleless. (Girellince.) 

 n. Incisors trifid; cheeks scaly; opercles naked; dorsal 



spinesl4orl5 Girella, 288. 



mm. Vomer with teeth; soft fins densely scaly ; incisors lanceo- 

 late. {Pimelepterince) 

 0. Incisors with horizontal backward-projecting roots, the 

 band of small teeth behind them narrow. 



PlJIELEPTERUS, 289. 



00. Incisors without evident roots, the band of small teeth 

 broad ; soft dorsal and anal many-rayed, much longer 

 than spinous dorsal ScoRPis, 290. 



281.— XENICHTHVS Gill. 



(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, 82 : type Xenichthijs xanti Gill, from Lower 

 California.) 



Body moderately elongate, subfusiform, compressed ; head conic, little 

 compressed; eyes large, anterior; preorbital rather narrow, oblique; 



