SCI^NID/E. 427 



fi7i. 3Iouth in front of the snout. Eye lateral, of vioderate size. 

 Teeth in villiform hands, sometimes toith the addition of canines ; 

 no molars or incisor-like teeth in the jaws ; imlate toothless. 

 Prceopercvlnm unarmed, and ivithout hony stay. Ventrcds 

 thoracic, loith one spine and five soft rays. Bones of the head 

 luith toide mucifcrous channels. Stomach coecal. Air-Madder 

 frequently with numerous appendages (see pp. 144 and serp) 



The fislies of the " Meagre " family are chiefly coast-fishes 

 of the tropical and sub-tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans, 

 preferring the neighbourhood of the mouths of large rivers, 

 into which they freely enter, some of the species having 

 become so completely naturalised in fresh water that they 

 are never found now-a-days in the sea. Some of the larger 

 species wander far from their original home, and are not 

 rarely found at distant localities as occasional visitors. In 

 the Pacific and on the coast of Australia, where l)ut a few 

 large rivers enter the ocean, they are extremely rare and, in 

 the Eed Sea, they are absent. Many attain a large size, and 

 almost all are eaten. 



No fossil species have been as yet discovered. 



PoGONiAS. — Snout convex, with the upper jaw overlapping 

 the lower. Mandible with numerous small barbels. No canines. 

 The first dorsal with ten stout spines. Two anal spines, the 

 second very strong. Scales of moderate size. 



To this fish (P. chromis) more especially is given the 

 name of " Drum," from the extraordinary sounds which are 

 produced by it and other allied Sciasnoids. These sounds are 

 better expressed by the word drumming than by any other, 

 and are frequently noticed by persons in vessels lying at 

 anchor on the coasts of the United States, where those fishes 

 abound. It is still a matter of uncertainty by what means 

 the " Drum " produces the sounds. Some naturalists believe 

 that it is caused by the clapping together of the pharyngeal 

 teeth, which are very large molar teeth. However, if it be 



