92. GERRID^ — GERRES. 583 



a slit between ifc and the preorbital to permit its free motion ; both jaws 

 with skMider, villiform teeth ; no incisors, canines, nor molars ; no te<'tli 

 on vomer or palatines ; preopercle entire or serrate ; sides of liead 

 scaly; nostrils double, round; pseudobranchise concealed; gill lakers 

 short, broad; gill-membranes separate, free from the isthmus; dorsal 

 fin single, continuous or deeply notched, the spinous and soft portions 

 about ecjually developed, with a scaly sheath along the base, as in Um- 

 biotocida' ; dorsal spines usvudly 9 or 10; anal usually with 3 spines ; the 

 soft portion of the fin similar to the soft dorsal, but shorter; ventral 

 fins thoracic, I, 5 ; branchiostegals G; lower pharyngeal bones firmly 

 united, with a suture; air-bladder present; i)yloric coeca rudimentaiy; 

 vertebrte 10-14. Oviparous. Species about 30, inhabiting the troi)ical 

 seas. They differ considerably in form, and in development of spines, 

 but probably all may be referred to a single genus. 

 {Gerridw Giiutlier, iv, 252-264.) 



306.— OEURES Cuvk-r. 



(Cnvier, Regne Auim, ed. 2, ii, 1829: type Gerres plumUri Cuv. & Yal.) 



Character of the genus included above. (An ancient Latin name of 

 some similar fish.) 

 a. Preopercle serrate ; second spines of dorsal and anal much enlarged. (Gerres.) 



919. €r. pliiiiBBCra Cuv. & Yal. 



Brilliant silver}", a blackish stripe along each row of scales, making 

 about 12 streaks, the upper concurreut with the back and thus strongly 

 curved ; fins, except the pectorals, dusky. Body compressed, the back 

 much elevated, the profile steeply descending and somewhat concave, the 

 snout rather i)ointed ; lips full, mouth quite small, the maxillary reaching 

 front of the pupil of the large eye, which is longer than snout, 3.j in 

 head; three rows of scales on cheek ; scales large, smooth, adherent; 

 longest dorsal spine nearly as long as head, longer than longest anal 

 spine ; pectorals narrow, pointed, reaching ])ast tips of ventrals to anal ; 

 caudal forked; ventral with a large accessory scale. Lat. 1. conspicuous, 

 its scales 38. Head 3;^ in length ; depth 2. D. IX, 12 ; A. Ill, 9, the last 

 rays not much higher than the scaly sheath. West Indies, north to 

 Eastern Florida. 



(Cuv. A. Val. vi, 452; Gunther, iv, 253.) 

 aa. Preopercle entire; second spines of dorsal and anal little enlarged. {Diajiterus" 

 Raiizani.) 



* Diapterus Ranzani, N. Comm. Ac. Sc. Bol. 1841 : = Eucinostomus B. & G. {SiaTtre- 

 poi, having the lin divided.) 



