744 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 

 Family ZPHIPPIDiE. 



Angel-fishes. 



Dorsal fin divided ; vertical fins scaly ; teeth bristle-like, in many 

 rows ; gill openings restricted to sides ; body compressed, greatly ele- 

 vated, with steep profile ; scales ctenoid ; mouth small ; premaxillaries 

 protractile ; maxillary short, without supplemental bone ; preopercle 

 usually finely serrate; pectorals short and ventrals long, thoracic 

 (I, 5) ; air-bladder large, often forked in front and with two slender 

 horns behind. 



CH^gSTODIPTERUS, Lac. 



(ParepMppus, Gill.) 



C faber, Brouss [Chxtodon, Ephippus, Zeus, quadratus, gigas, zonatus). 

 Angel-fish. Porgee. 



Grayish, dusky band across eye to throat ; similar bands on 

 body, obscured with age ; ventrals' black ; third dorsal spine 

 prolonged ; a row of pores on chin ; body nearly orbicular in 

 outline, much compressed ; scales small. Dorsal rays, VIII — 

 I, 20; anal rays. III, 18 ; lateral-line scales, 60; length, 2 feet. 

 Excellent for food. 



" This peculiar fish is met with during the summer on our 

 coast, but never abundantly ; and during some seasons it does 

 not make its appearance." Old individuals of large size, with- 

 out bands, and with thick, bony masses on occipital crest, &c., 

 have by some been considered to be distinct species, as follows : 



" Ephippus gigas. 



" Has been caught in the Hudson River. Very rare." 



Family CH^TODONTIDiE. 



Differs from last family in having the dorsal fin continuous; 

 pseudobranchs very large ; colors bright. 



