CIERHITID.f:. 



411 



The fishes of this family may be readily recognised by 

 their tliickened, undivided lower pectoral rays, which in some 

 are evidently auxiliary organs of locomotion, in others, 

 probably, organs of touch. They differ from the following 

 family, the Scorp?enidse, in lacking the bony connection 

 between the infraorbital ring and the prseoperculum. Two 

 groups may be distinguished in this family, which, however, 

 are connected by an intermediate genus (Chironemus). The 

 first, distinguished by the presence of vomerine teeth, consists 

 of Cirrhites and Chorinemns, small prettily coloured fi.shes. 

 The former genus is peculiar to the Indo-Pacific, and con- 

 sists of sixteen species; the second, with three species, 

 seems to be confined to the coasts of Australia and New 

 Zealand. The second group lacks the vomerine teeth, and 

 comprises the following genera : — 



Chilodactylus. — One dorsal fin, with from sixteen to nineteen 

 spines ; anal fin of moderate length ; caudal forked. One of the 

 simple pectoral rays more or less prolonged, and projecting be- 

 yond the margin of the fin. Teeth in villiform bands ; no canines. 

 Praeoperculum not serrated. Scales of moderate size. Air- 

 bladder with many lobes. 



Fig. 177. — Chilodactylus macroptcrus, from Australia. 



Seventeen species are known, chiefly from the temperate 

 parts of the Southern Pacific, and also from the coasts of 

 Japan and China. They belong to the most valuable food- 

 fishes, as they grow to a considerable size (from five to 



