SPAROID FISHES OF AMERICA AND EUROPE. 515 



XXIV. SPARUS. 



Sparus Artedi, Genera Piscium, IISX, 35 {aurala, etc.). 



Sparus Liniifpus, >Syst. Natura, ed. x, 1758, 277 (anrata, etc.), restricted to aurata by 



Bleeker, Gill, and various autliors. 

 Pagrus Cuvier, R^gne Animal, ed. i, 1817, 272 {argenteus^^i)a<jru8). 

 Aurata Risso, Euro})o M(5rid., m, 356, 1826 (anrata). 

 Chrysophrys CuA'ier, Regne Animal, ed. ii, 1829 (anrata). 

 Chrysoblephus Swainson, Nat. Hist. Fishes, etc., ir, 18.39, 221 ((jibbiceps). 

 Argyrops Swainson, 1. c. (spinifer). 

 Pagrichthys Bleeker, Nederl. Ind. Nat. Tijdschr., xxi, 60, 1860. 



Type: kSparus aurata L. 



Etymology : andpoc;.^ sparus, an old name of some fish of this genus. 



This is a large genus, chiefly represented in tlie waters of the Old 

 World, and comprising a, considerable variety of forms. The sj)ecies 

 have been commonly distributed in two genera: Pagrus with the molar 

 teeth in two series, and Spams (Chrysophrys) with the molars in three 

 or more. This character has not much importance, and Steindachner 

 has proi)osed to substitute for it the following: 



Sparus : Teeth behind the canines, with the apex rounded, granu- 

 lated, or globose; molars in two or more series. 



Pagrus: Teeth behind the canines acute, subulate or setaceous) 

 molars in two or more series. 



Although in general appearance Sparus aurata and Sparus pagrus 

 differ considerably, and also considerably from other aberrant species, 

 as S. gibhiceps and S. spinifer, there is no important difference in the 

 skull or skeleton, and we place all in one genus. To this genus Pagel- 

 lus is very closely allied. 



But one species of Sparus is yet known from America. In Europe 

 are found : 



§ SPARUS. 



108. SPARUS AURATA (L.). Southern Europe north to England. 



109. SPARUS CJERULEOSTICTUS Cuv. & Val. Northwest coast of 



Africa (lately obtained in Sicily by Prof. Doderlein). 



§PAGRUS. 



110. SPARUS PAGRUS L. Southern Europe north to England; common 



also along the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. 



111. SPARUS EHRENBERGI (Cuv, & Val.). Mediterranean Sea; rare. 



112. SPARUS BERTHELOTI (Valeuciennes). Western Mediterranean 



and neighborinjr islands. 



