UKKYCID^. 



Fam. 2. BERYCIDiE. 



Form of body oblong or rather elevated, compressed ; eyes lateral, 

 large ; cleft of mouth extending on the sides of the muzzle, more or 

 less oblique ; villiform teeth in both the jaws, and generally on the 

 palate. Eight or four branchiostegals. Opercular bones more or less 

 armed. Scales ctenoid, seldom bony, or wanting. Central fins 

 thoracic, with more than five soft rays, in one genus with less. 

 Cajca pjiorica in increased number. 



Tropical and temperate seas. 



The genera of this most natural family have been improperly 

 scattered by Cu\-ier in the families of TrigUdse and Percida;. Lowe 

 was the first who defined this group, in his admirable work on 

 the " Fishes of Madeira." He overlooked, however, the genus 

 Rhynchichthys, apparently a less aberrant form than Monocentris, 

 which may be considered as a connecting link with the first family. 



Syno2)sis of the Genera. 



Scales foniiing a bony mail; several isolated 



spines in front of the dorsal fin 1. MoNOCENTRlS. 



One dorsal. No vomerine teeth. Abdomen ser- 

 rated 2. HOPLOSTETHUS. 



One dorsal. Vomerine teeth. Abdomen serrated. 3. Tbachichthys. 



No scales 4. ANOPLOGASTEjlt. 



One dorsal. Vomerine teeth. No barbel 5. Beryx. 



Two barbels 6. Polymixia. 



Two dorsals. Prseopercular spine none 7. Myripristis. 



Two dorsals. Praeopercular spine. Jaws equal, 



or the lower prominent 8. Holocentrum. 



Two dorsals. Pra3opercular spine. Snout pro- 

 jecting beyond the mouth 9. Rhynchichthys. 



1. MONOCENTRIS. 



(lasterosteus, sp., Houttuyn. 



Scisena, sp., Thunhcry. 



Monocentris, Bl. Schn. p. 100; Cuv. 8f Val. iv. p. 461. 



Lepisacantlius, Lacep. iii. p. 321. 



Muzzle blunt, rounded, protruding, with the cleft of mouth 

 beneath ; eye moderate. Villiform teeth in both the jaws and on 

 the i)alatines, but none on the vomer. Eight brancliiostegals. 

 Opei'fiiliU- l)ones .scarcely denticulated ; suborl)ital bones with radi- 

 ating boil}' ridges. Scales verj- large, bou) , fornung together a mail. 

 Several isolated .spines in front of the dorsal. Ventrals reduced to a 



