426 KKi'oirr of commissioner of fish and fisheries. 



Su 1 1 fiiiiiily I V. — II.KM ri.i n.k. 



{Hjxirichr a\ itli the tcotli all pointed, none on vomer or jialatines; without 

 stronj^ canines, the preinaxillaries not j;roatly ])r<)tractile, the 

 niaxiUaries serrauine, antl the air bladder simple.) 



Body generally oblong, compressed, coveri-d witii large or small scales; jaws witn 

 bands of teeth, the outer series of which are often enlarged, but not so as to form 

 specialized canines; no teeth on vomer, jialatiues, or tongue; preopercle usually ser- 

 rate, the serra^ rarely obsolete; dorsal fni continuous. Intestinal canal short, with 

 few pyloric cceca. 



Shore lishes of the warm seas, the majority of the numerous species American, 

 The fishes of this group present numerous resemblances to the Sciumicla', iu which 

 family they were placed by Cuvier 



a. Chin with a central groove behind the symphysis of the lower jaw. 



b. Mouth more or less wide, the lips scarlet in life posteriorly; soft parts of 



vertical tins densely scaly to their margins H/KMULON, 12. 



hb. iloutli more or less narrow; soft tins naked or with scales on their basal 

 parts, 

 c. Anal fm short, its rays iil,7 to in, 10; dorsal fin more or less emaiginate, its 

 spines rather robust. 

 d. Body ovate, the back elevated; depth greater than length of the head; 

 outer teeth of upper jaw enlarged; lips thick; second anal spino 

 strong; soft rays of dorsal and anal scaly at base-.ANisoTUEMUS, 13. 

 (Id. Body oblong, the depth usually less than length of head; lips not very 

 thick. 

 f. I'rcopercle very sharply serrate, the serra?. at angle much enlarged, 

 those below angle turned forward; outer teeth iu both jaws con- 

 siderably enlarged; soft raj's of dorsal and anal more or less scaly; 



second anal spine enlarged Coxouox, 14. 



ee. I'rcopercle finely serrate, the serra? at the angle scarcely enlarged, those 

 below not autrorse ; teeth subequal, or the outer in upper jaw some- 

 what enlarged; gill-rakers very short and weak.. ..PoMADASis, 15. 

 cc. Anal tin long aud ]ow, its rays iii,16 to in, 13; dorsal fin low, scarcely 

 emarginate; .anal spines small; preopercle finely serrate or entire; 

 outer teeth of jaAvs scarcely enlarged; gill-rakers moderate, rather 



slender OuTHormsTis, 16. 



aa. ('bin with ]>or(ts but with no central groove .at the symphysis; soft rays of 

 vertical fins naked or partly scaled; preiipercle iiuely serrate. 

 /. Anterior profile p.arabolic or nearly straight; teeth small, the outer 

 usually more or less enlarged ; gill-rakers slender and comparatively 

 long. (Appearance of Orthoprisiis.) 

 ij. Anal fm long, with 10 to 13 soft rays; dorsal fin deeply notched ; 

 soft dorsal and anal naked, with no distinct slioath at base. 



ISACIA, 17. 

 (/(J. Anal fin short, with scvin soft rays; dorsal fin low Jiud scarcely 

 emarginate; soft dors.al and anal more or less densely scaly. 



[rAKAI'iaSTn'O-VIA, IS.] 

 _//'. Anterior jirofile conciive above the eye; snoutgibbons; outer teeth in 

 both jaws enlarged aiul blunt (apjiearanco of Aiiinofrcmun); gill- 

 rakers snuill and slender Gknyaxkeml'S, 19. 



