394 



FISHES. 



pointing forwards in front of the dorsal fin. The lower limb 

 of the prpeoperculum with a double serrated margin. 



This genus comprises the smallest of all Percoids, some 

 of the species not much exceeding one inch in length. They 

 are most abundant on the coasts of the tropical Indo- 

 Pacific, and in the fresh waters belonging to that area. The 

 species are numerous (some thirty having been described), 

 and very difficult to distinguish. Their coloration is very 

 plain, a silvery hue prevailing over the whole fish. 



Apogon. — Body rather short, covered with large deciduous 

 scales. Mouth oblique, with the lower jaw longest ; teeth villi- 

 form, without canines ; teeth on the vomer and palatine bones. 

 Two dorsal fins, the first with six or seven, the anal with two 

 spines. Pmeoperculum with a double edge on the margin, one 

 or both edges being serrated. Seven branchiostegals. 



Although of similarly small size, the fishes of this genus 

 represent a more highly developed form of the Percoid type 

 than Amhassis. Their distribution coincides very much with 



Fig. 166. — Apogon freiiatns. 



that of Anibassis, but they are chiefly marine, comparatively 

 few of the species entering fresh water. They belong to the 

 kind of fishes which, from their habit, are termed " Coral 

 Fishes," being found in greatest abundance on, or in the 



