THE SCORP^ENOIDS 2719 



(Latris~) , distinguished by the absence of any elongation of the pectoral rays and 

 the deeply-notched dorsal, is well known in Tasmania and New Zealand in the 

 person of the trumpeter fish (L. necatia), which claims the first place among the fish 

 products of those colonies, ranging in weight from thirty to sixty pounds, and being 

 at the same time most excellently flavored. 



THE SCORP^NOIDS Family 



With this family we come to a group easily distinguished from all the preced- 

 ing representatives of this section by the articulation of the preopercular bone with 

 the orbit by means of a projecting process from the infraorbital ring. Some of the 

 other bones of the head are also armed, and the dentition is but feebly developed. 

 These fishes, which are represented by a large number of genera, are found in most 

 seas, and are all carnivorous in their habits. Dr. Giinther writes that ' ' some 

 resemble the sea perches in their form and habits, as Sebastes, Scorp&na, etc., 

 while others live at the bottom of the sea, and possess in various degrees of develop- 

 ment those skinny appendages resembling the fronds of sea weeds, by which they 

 either attract other fishes, or by which they are enabled more effectually to hide 

 themselves. Species provided with these appendages have generally a coloration 

 resembling that of their surroundings, and varying with the change of locality. 

 Some of the genera live at a considerable depth, but apparently not beyond three 

 hundred fathoms. Nearly all are distinguished by a powerful armature, either of 

 the head, or fin spines, or both; and in some the spines have been developed into 

 poison organs. ' ' The group is scarcely known in a fossil state, although remains 

 of a species of the typical genus occur in the Eocene of Algeria. 



The family is divided into two sections, according as to whether there are 

 distinct scales on the body, or whether these are rudimentary or wanting. In the 

 former are included Sebastes and the typical Scorpcena. Most curious of all are the 

 members of the tropical Indo- Pacific genus Pterbis, in which the spines of the 

 dorsal and the rays of the pectoral 'fins are more or less produced, so much so, 

 indeed, that in the case of one species at least, P. -volitans, it was formerly thought 

 that they indicated the possession of flying powers in their owner. The fins and 

 body of this extraordinary-looking fish are most beautifully marked with alter- 

 nating light and dark transverse bands. Among the genera with small or 

 rudimental scales we have only space to mention the Oriental Pelor and Chori- 

 dactylus, each represented only by a single species of four or five inches in length ; 

 and both of which are remarkable for the extraordinary development of the appen- 

 dages mentioned above, some of these occurring on the fins, and others on the 

 head and lower lip. The representative of the second genus is very common at 

 Madras. It may be added that this family includes the smallest members of the 

 suborder, which belong to the genus Micropus a name probably belonging to the 

 swifts. These fish scarcely exceed an inch and a half in length, and frequent the 

 coral reefs of the Pacific. 



