THE WRASSE-LIKE FISHES 



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very abnormal forms, agreeing only with the more typical members of the suborder 

 to which they are referred in the presence of spines in the median fins. Possessing 

 an elongate and somewhat compressed body, covered with minute scales, they are 

 specially characterized by having the dorsal fin composed of a series of low isolated 

 spines, without any soft portion; while the anal is elongated, with a great number 

 of spines; the pelvic fins being abdominal in position, and comprising more than five 

 soft rays, in addition to several unarticulated ones. In the head the muzzle is pro- 

 longed in advance of the mouth; the moderate-sized eyes are lateral in position; and 

 the teeth are small and weak. The six known species range from the Arctic Ocean 

 to the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and South Pacific. All are deep-sea fishes, prob- 

 ably dwelling at depths of from a hundred to five hundred fathoms; although one 

 specimen taken to the south of Yokahama during the voyage of the Challenger is 

 stated to have come from a depth of nearly nineteen hundred fathoms. 



THE WRASSE-UKE FISHES Families POMACENTRID.&, 



CHROMIDID^Z^ etc. 



In almost all the families of spiny-finned fishes hitherto described the lower 

 pharyngeal bones are completely separated from one another, whereas in the four 

 families remaining for consideration these are united with one another. It has been 



SILVER -DOTTED POMACENTRUS. 

 (Five-sixths natural size.) 



considered that this difference was of sufficient importance to justify the reference 

 of the families with united pharyngeals to a subordinal group of equal rank with 

 one containing those in which these bones remain distinct; but we prefer to follow 



