410 



FISHES. 



Villiform teeth on the vomer, palatines and the tongue. 

 Vertical fins densely covered with mimite scales. Only one 

 genus is known, Pimdepterus, wath six species from tropical 



seas. These fishes are sometimes 

 found at a great distance from 

 the land. 



Fifth Family — Hoplognathid^. 



Body compressed and elevated, 

 covered with very small ctenoid 

 scales. Zatcrcd line continuous. 

 The hones of the jaws have a sharp 

 dcntigcrous edge, as in Scams. 

 Fig. 176.— Teeth of Hoplognathus. fj^f,, feeth, if at cdl conspicuous, 

 Icing continuous with the hone, forming a more or less 

 indistinct scrmturc ; no teeth on the j)f^/«;^c. The sijinous 

 portion of the dorsal fin is rather more developed than the soft ; 

 the spines strong ; anal tvith three spines, similar to the soft 

 dorsal. Ventnds thoracic, unth one spine and five soft rays. 



One genus only is known, Hoplognathus, with four species 

 from Australian, Japanese, and Peruvian coasts. 



Sixth Fa:\iily — Cirrhitid.i:. 



Body ohlong, compressed, covered icith cycloid scales ; lateral 

 line continuous. Mouth in front of the snout, with lateral 

 cleft. Eye Uttered, of moderate size. CheeJcs loithout a bony stay 

 for the 2^v(€ope7xulum. Gcncrcdly six, sometimes five or three 

 hranchiostegals. Dentition more or less complete, composed of 

 smcdl pointed teeth, somctirnes with the addition of canines. 

 One d or s(d fin, formed hy a spinous and soft portion, of nearly 

 ccjual dcvclop)ment. Anal with three spines, gcncrcdly less 

 developed than the soft dorscd. The lower rays of the pectoral 

 fins simple and generally enlarged ; ventrcds thoracic, hut remote 

 from the root of the pectorals, with one spine and five rays. 



