204 FISHES. 



1. Small fresh water fishes (1 to 6 inches long) ; elongated 



or fusiform, often brightly colored; the fins — espe- 

 cially the pectorals— well developed ; anal spines one or 

 two ; branchiostegals 6. . Etheostomatid^, 89 



2. Pectoral fins very long, reaching at least to anal, with 3 



detached appendages or else several connected, forming 

 an additional fin • cheeks mailed ; head bony. 



Triglidoe, the Gurnards. 



3. With 7 or 8 filiform appendages on each side below the 



pectorals ; cheeks not mailed. 



PolynemidcB^ the Thread-Fishes. 



4. Throat with two long barbels. MuUidce, the Surmullets. 



5. Dorsal spines only two ; scales minute, imbedded in the 



skin. . . . Rhypticid(B^ the Soap Fishes. 



6. Ventrals abdominal ; body elongated ; scales cycloid ; 



teeth stout. . . Sphyrcenidce., the Barracudas. 



7. AVith none of the above combinations ; ventrals mostly 



thoracic. 



a. Some or all of opercular bones, more or less serrated 

 or spinous. 



h. With teeth on the vomer. 



c. First dorsal low and weak of 8 spines ; scales small ; 

 one or more minute spines in front of anal; 

 teeth strong. . Pomatomidm, the Blue Fishes. 



cc. Dorsal spines stout ; scales ctenoid ; no free anal 

 spines. 



, d. Ventrals 1-5 ; branchiostegals usually 7. 



e. Cleft of mouth horizontal or oblique ; scales 

 firm. 



— Anal spines 2, sometimes obscure. 



Percid^, 90. 



— Anal spines 3, distinct. . Labracid^, 91. 



ee. Cleft of mouth nearly vertical ; scales large, 

 deciduous. Chilodipterid(e^ the Apogons. 



dd. Ventrals 1-7; branchiostegals 8; anal spines 4. 



BerycidcB, the Berycoids. 



