SPAROIDS. 99 



the adult period, when the fish, for example, has acquired a length 

 of three feet : in a specimen measuring a foot long, the enlargement 

 of the maxillaries has scarcely begun to take place. 



An extinct genus of Sparoid fishes, called Sparnodus by M. Agassiz, 

 has conical teeth on the outer margin of both jaws, but with an 

 apex so obtuse that they present nearly the form of the molars of Chry- 

 sophrys : the dentition differs from that of the Gilt-heads, inasmuch 

 as the molars form only a single row. 



In the genus Lethrinus the intermaxillary and pre mandibular 

 bones are furnished with villiform, laniary, and molar teeth ; but the 

 latter are always restricted to a single row, and are sometimes of a 

 large size. The laniary form and development is confined to the four or 

 six anterior teeth, behind which are placed the minute villiform teeth ; 

 the single row of large molars distinguish the Lethrines from the 

 other Sparoid genera. 



In the Lethrinus latidens, a species discovered by the French voya- 

 gers, MM. Quoy and Gaimard, on the coasts of New Guinea, there are 

 six strong laniary teeth in the upper, and four in the lower jaw; the 

 first molar of the upper jaw is small and round : the second is twice 

 as broad in the transverse as in the antero-posterior direction ; the 

 three following teeth are of still larger size, and are remarkable for 

 their great breadth : the last molar is the smallest. This dentition is 

 interesting on account of its analogy with that of the singular extinct 

 genus Placodus. 



Cantharus. — The Sea-breams belonging to this genus have their 

 teeth of small size, and closely aggregated on the alveolar borders of 

 the jaws, like the teeth of a rasp ; the anterior ones being a little 

 longer and more curved than the rest. 



The Sparoids of the genus Box (Cuv.) have a single row of closely- 

 packed flattened teeth in each jaw ; the anterior ones have simple 

 crowns, while those at the sides are notched in the middle of the 

 cutting margin. 



The Scathari have a single row of flattened, pointed, but not notched 

 teeth, in each jaw. 



The Oblate have a single row of flattened and notched teeth, 



H 2 



