90 COTTOIDS. 



In the Serrani, or Sea -perches, the dentition begins to assume a 

 more carnivorous character, and long, sharp-pointed, conical teeth 

 are intermixed with the teeth ' en brosse,' which are arranged in 

 bands more or less broad on the intermaxillary and premandibular 

 bones. In the Serranus Scriba, the two or three laniary teeth 

 near the middle line are most developed. The palatines and pharyn- 

 geal bones are armed simply with villous teeth ; these are arranged 

 in the form of a chevron on the vomer ; the tongue is edentulous. 



The Plectropromes , Mesoprions and Cirrhites have the same type 

 of dentition as that of the Sea-perches. The larger conical teeth are 

 also superadded to the villiform teeth of the jaws in some species of 

 the genus Sillago. 



In the genus Trichodon, the villiform teeth are more elongated 

 than usual, slightly recurved ; and those of the exterior rows have 

 more a horny than a bony consistence, whence the name of the 

 species {Trachinus trichodori) which Cuvier has made the type of a 

 genus. 



In the genus Myripristis, there are very fine villiform teeth on 

 the palatines, vomer, and jaw-bones ; but in front of the latter, there 

 are five or six of larger size, but of an obtuse conical shape. The 

 tongue is smooth, but the branchial arches and pharyngeal bones are 

 armed with villiform teeth. 



The beautiful Holocentra and the large-eyed Beryx have simply 

 villiform teeth on the same localities as the Myripristis. The weevers 

 {Trachinus), have also the pterygoid bones similarly armed. In the 

 Percis, a row of larger unciform teeth are placed in front of the villi- 

 form teeth of the jaws ; the palatine and lingual bones are eden- 

 tulous. 



In the Percophis, there are five long, recurved, sharp-pointed 

 teeth in each intermaxillary ; and a greater number of similar teeth in 

 the lower jaw, besides the teeth ' en velours.' The palatine, as well as 

 the vomer, are armed with villiform teeth. 



COTTOIDS. 



35. In the Cottoid or mailed-cheeked fishes, [Joues cuirassees of 

 Cuvier), the only teeth which maintain a constant character are those 

 of the pharyngeal bones, which are always villiform. In the common 



