PERCID^. 387 



mandible, but without central pit. Teeth villiform, without 



canines ; palate toothless. One ^,^| 



dorsal fin, with from nine to 



fourteen spines ; anal with three. A 



Vertical fins not scaly. Pra?- 



operculum serrated ; infraorbital 



not armed. Branchiostegals, six ^.^^ i57._Diagramma\rientale, from 

 or seven. the ludo-Pacific 



Forty species are known, which, with very few exceptions, 

 belong to the tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific. Some attain 

 to a size not very common among Sea-Perches, viz. to a length 

 of from three to four feet. Many are agreeably coloured with 

 black bands or spots. All appear to be esteemed as food. 

 Hyperoglyjphe from Australia is allied to this genus. 



LoBOTES. — Body rather elevated, compressed, with ctenoid 

 scales of moderate size. Eye rather small. Snout obtuse, with 

 oblique cleft of the mouth, and Avith the lower jaw longest. 

 Teeth villiform, without canines ; palate toothless. One dorsal 

 fin with twelve spines ; anal Avith three. Prseoperculum denticu- 

 lated. Branchiostegals, six. 



A remarkable fish (Z. audorum) on account of its extra- 

 ordinary range. Common in many localities, scarcer in 

 others, it occurs in the East Indies, and on all the Atlantic 

 coasts of tropical and temperate America. Doderlein found 

 it on the coast of Sicily in 1875. It lives in salt and brackish 

 water, and is known to attain to a length of two feet. 



HiSTiOPTERUS. — Body rather elevated, strongly compressed, 

 with very small scales. Snout much produced, the anterior profile 

 of the head being concave. Mouth small, at the end of the snout. 

 Teeth villiform, without canines ; palate toothless. Some of the 

 spines and rays of the vertical and pectoral fins very long. One 

 dorsal, with about ten spines ; anal with three. Praeopercular 

 margin partly serrated. Branchiostegals, six. 



Marine. Four species are known from Japan and South 

 Australia. The species figured attains to a length of 20 



