SEA-BEEAMS. 405 



fish immediately after its capture, thus causing a permanent 

 contraction of the chromatophors containing the red pigment 

 (see p. 183). 



FouETH Family — Spaeid^. 



Body compressed, ohlong, covered with scales, the serrature of 

 ivhich is very minute, and sometimes altogether ahsent. Mouth 

 in front of the snout, ivith the cleft lettered. Eye latercd, of 

 moderate size, Either cutting teeth in front of the jaws, or 

 molar teeth on the side ; palate generally toothless. One dorsal 

 fin, formed hy a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal 

 development. Anal fin with three 'spines. The loiver rays of 

 the pectoral fin are generally branched, htit in one genus simple. 

 Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five rays. 



The " Sea-breams " are recognised chiefly by their denti- 

 tion, which is more specialised than in the preceding families, 

 and by which the groups, into which this family has been 

 divided, are characterised. They are inhabitants of the shores 

 of all the tropical and temperate seas. Their coloration is 

 very plain. They do not attain to a large size, but the 

 majority are used as food. 



The extinct forms found hitherto are rather numerous ; 

 the oldest come from the cretaceous formation of Mount 

 Lebanon ; some belong to living genera, as Sargus, Pagellus ; 

 of others from Eocene and Miocene formations no living 

 representative is known — Sparnodus, Sargodon, Capitodus, 

 Sorieidens, Asima. 



First Group — Cantharina. — More or less broad cutting, 

 sometimes lobate, teeth in front of the jaws ; no molars or 

 vomerine teeth ; the lower pectoral rays are branched. Partly 

 herbivorous, partly carnivorous. The genera belonging to 

 this group are : — Cantharus from the European and South 

 African coasts, of which one species {G. lineatus), is common 

 on the coasts of Great Britain, and locally known by the 



