424 



FISHES. 



vomer and palatine bones. Opercular bones and prieorbital 

 serrated ; operculum with tAvo spines behind ; a large spine at 

 the angle of the praeoperculum. Scales ctenoid, of moderate 

 size. Two dorsals, the first with twelve spines ; anal with four 

 spines, the third being very long and strong ; caudal forked. 

 Ventrals with seven soft rays. 



About thirty sj)ecies are known from the tropical seas of 

 both hemispheres ; all are surface fishes, and very common. 

 The young have the upper part of the snout pointed and 



Fig. 185. — Huluccntrum uiiipunctutuvi, from the Soutli Sea. 



elongate, and were described as a distinct genus {Ithynchich- 

 thijfi). The coloration of the adult is uniform ; red, pink, and 

 silvery prevailing. They attain to a length of about 15 inches, 

 and are esteemed as food. 



Third Division — Acanthopterygii Kurtifoemes. 



One dorsal Jin onbj,mi(ch shorfer than the anal, which is 

 lo7i(j and many-rayed. No superhranchial organ. 



One family only belongs to this division. 



Fa.MILY — KURTID.E. 



Body corn-pressed, oUong, deep in front, attenuated lehind. 

 Snout short. The spines of the short dorsal are few in number, 



