pekcid.t:. 



381 



known to tlie ancients. Aristotle says that the fishers of 

 Sponges call it sacred, because no voracious fishes came to the 

 places which it frequented, and the diver might descend with 

 safety. — Callanthias is a genus closely allied to Anthias. 



Serranus. • — Body oblong, compressed, with small scales. 

 Teeth villiform, with very distinct canines in botli jaws ; teeth 

 on the vomer and palatine bones, none on the tongue. One 

 dorsal, mostly with nine or eleven, rarely with eight, ten or 

 twelve spines ; anal fin with three : all the spines being stout. 

 Prseoperculum serrated behind and at the angle, but not below. 



The " Sea perches proper " are found on the shores of all 

 temperate and tropical seas, most abundantly in the latter. 

 A few species enter brackish and even fresh water, one having 

 been found as high up the Ganges as the confines of Nepal. 

 However, all spawn in the sea. The variety of species is 

 almost infinite, about 150 being tolerably well known, and 

 many more having been described. The distinction of the 

 species is most difficult, and nearly impossible to those who 

 have no opportunity of closely and long observing them in 

 nature, as they are not only subject to great variation of 

 colour, but also to considerable changes dependent on age. 



Many are most agreeably coloured, and ornamented with spots, 

 or cross bands or longitudinal stripes ; colours which become 

 more uniform with age in those species which attain to a 



