284 



ICHTHYOLOGY. 



Classifica- by the second saborbitar, as in the other ScUrogenida; distinguished 

 tion — by having several (generally five) lateral lines at various heights. 

 Acanthop- Mouth small. Dorsal nearly even, extending all along the back ; its 

 terous spinous rays slender ; ventrals of five rays and a spine. No pan- 

 Fishes, creatic caeca. Frequently a tufted filament on the eye-brows. Ten 

 V , ^ V species. Pacific. 



The genus Stkhceus of Reinhardt {Oversigt over det Kongdige, 

 Danske, Vid. Sels. &c., 1835-6) should come in here, but we have 

 not at present access to Keinhardt's paper. 



sci.j:noids. 



Several genera have been removed from this family as it 

 was presented in the Histoire des Poissoiis, particularly the 

 groups which have a lateral line broken or interrupted 

 under the distal end of the dorsal fin. The?e form the 

 Ctenoid Labroids in the order of Pharyngognaths already 

 treated of. We have also associated the genera that have 

 fewer branchiostegals than seven with the Theraponidce, 

 and Cheilodactylus with the Polijnemida. These being 

 removed, the remainder present a more perfect family 

 aspect. 



TABLE OF GENERA. 



Two dorsals, or one dorsal deeply notched. 

 No mandibular barbels. 

 JVb strong canines. 



Denticulated preopercula. 



ifo large smooth rounded teeth. 

 Snout convex, bulging. 



SCI.ENA, Cortina, Leiostomds, Johnius. 

 Snout not convex nor high and rounded. 

 Larimus, Lepipterl'S. 

 Large pavement-like teeth on the jaws. 



BORIDIA, CONODON. 



Preopercula not denticulated. 



Nebris, Eleginus. 

 Strong canine teeth. 



Otolithcs, Ancylodon, 

 One or more mandibular barbels. 



Umbrina, Lonchurus, Pogonias, Micropogon. 



One dorsal only. 



H^MULON, Pristipoma, Diagramma. 



Fig. 100. 

 Corvina Bichardsonii. 



This woodcut represents a fresh-water Corvina, common 

 in Lake Huron. We have, however, some suspicion of its 

 belonging more properly to the T/teraponidte than to the 

 ScicenidcB, notwithstanding Cuvier's weighty authority. It 

 has only six branchiostegals. 



Many members of this family have curious air-bladders 

 with fringe-like appendages. The subjoined woodcuts re- 

 present that of Corvina acoupa, and oi' Pogonias chroniis. 

 One of the most remarkable of the ScieeneE is the aquila, 

 called Umbrina by the Romans, and held in high esteem 

 in the Mediterranean even at the present day. It is very 

 rare on the British coasts. Dr Patrick Neill records one 

 instance of its capture off Ugea in Northmavine, Shet- 

 land, in November 1819. When first seen, it caught 

 the attention of the fishermen by its endeavours to elude 

 the pursuit of a seal. It measured five feet four inches, 

 and when lifted into the boat made its usual " purring 



Fi?. 101. 



Air-bladder, 



Corvina. acoupa. 



sound." Mr Yarrell mentions some subsequent instances Classifica- 

 of its being taken on the Northumber- 

 land and Kentish coasts. It is much 

 more common in the Mediterranean, 

 and Paul Jovius says that many were 

 taken at the mouth of rivers in the 

 Roman states, along with Sturgeons. 

 They swim in troops, and are said to 

 utter at times a low bellowing sound. 

 On one occasion, the fishermen, guided 

 by this sound, dropt their net with such 

 success as to secure twenty fine fish 

 at a single cast. The noise may be heard 

 from the depth of twenty fathoms, and 

 is often very perceptible when the ear 

 is placed upon the gunwale of the boat. 

 Its tone seems to vary, as some have 

 compared it to a dull buzzing, others 

 to a sharp whistle. Some fishermen 

 allege that the males alone are musical 

 during spawning time, and that it is 

 quite possible to capture them without 

 any bait, merely by imitating this pe- 

 culiar sound. One alluded to by Cu- 

 vier as having been entangled in a net spread along the 

 shore at Dieppe, was at first found sleeping ; but on being 

 handled it 

 roused itself 

 so suddenly, 

 and with such 

 violence, as 

 to precipitate 

 the fisher- 

 man into the 

 water, and 

 force him to 

 call for as- 

 sistance be- 

 fore he could 

 become its 

 master. High, 

 though of 

 course ima- 

 ginary vir- 

 tues, were 

 formerly at- 

 tributed to 

 the stones 

 which occur 

 in the ear of 

 this, as of 

 other osseous 

 fishes. They 

 were worn on 

 the neck, set 

 in gold ; and 



Belon says they were called colic-stones, being renowned for 

 the cure, and even prevention of that complaint. It was 

 necessary, however, that they should be received as a gift, — 

 such as were purchased being found to lose their virtue. 



The Pogonias grow to a great size, some of them 

 weighing occasionally above a hundred pounds, and the 

 singular sounds uttered by them have gained them the 

 vulgar name of Drums. Mr John White, an American 

 lieutenant, wlio (in 1824) published .4 Voyage to the China 

 Seas, relates, that being at the mouth of the River Cambodia, 

 himself and crew were greatly astonished by certain extra- 

 ordinary sounds, which were heard from around and beneath 

 the vessel. They resembled a combination of the bass of 

 an organ, the sound of bells, and the guttural cries of a 

 large frog, with certain tones which the imagination might 



Fig. 102. 

 Air-bladder, Pogonias chromis. 



