PERCID^. 



391 



equal iu length anteriorly, or with the lower somewhat projecting. 

 Teeth villiform ; palate generally toothless. One dorsal, with 

 from nine to thirteen very feeble spines, with the anterior part 

 highest, and the posterior covered with minute scales. Caudal 

 fin deeply forked. PrsBoperculum without, or with minute, 

 serrature. 



Small fishes from the Indo-Pacific. Twelve species. 



Erythrichthys. — Body elongate, covered with small ciliated 

 scales. Mouth very protractile, the pedicles of the intermaxillary 

 3xtending to the occiput. Dentition quite rudimentary or entirely 

 absent. Two dorsal fins connected by a series of very feeble 

 spines ; also the anterior spines are feeble. Prseoperculum not 

 serrated. 



Fig. 161.— Erythrichthj^s nitidus. 



Fi^. 16"2. — Eularged scale. 



Fiff. 163.— Protractile moutli. 



Small fishes from various tropical aud temperate seas. 

 Four species : the species figured occurs, but is not common, 



