438 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTEEYGII. 



or emarginate. Scales small, cycloid or 



ctenoid 3. SERRANUS. 



Opercle armed. Canines present ; lateral conical 

 teeth in lower jaw. One dorsal fin ; three 

 anal spines. Caudal deeply forked. Scales 

 small, ctenoid 4. VARIOLA. 



Opercle spiny. Two dorsal fins ; no anal spines. 



Scales minute 5. GRAMMISTKS. 



Branchiostegals seven. Opercles armed. One 

 dorsal fin ; three anal spines. Scales of 

 moderate size G. MYRIODON. 



Opercle armed ; preopercle with a double denti- 

 culated edge. Two dorsal fins; two aual 

 spines. Scales small, adherent 7. DIPLOPRION. 



Opercle scarcely spiny ; preopercle serrated, its 

 vertical border in some species notched to 

 receive an interopercular knob, which is some- 

 times present. Generally canines in both 

 jaws, and an outer row of conical lateral teeth. 

 One dorsal fin ; three anal spines 8. LUTJANUS. 



Third group. PBIACANTHLNA.. 



B. vi. Lower jaw prominent. Cleft of mouth almost vertical. 



Scales ctenoid, small. Pyloric appendages few. 

 Eyes large 9. PRIACANTHUS. 



Fourth group. APOGONINA. 



Form of body more or less elevated and compressed. Opercles mostly 

 denticulated or armed. Preopercle with a double border. Cleft of 

 mouth oblique or even nearly vertical. Two dorsals. Scales deciduous. 

 B. vi. Opercle without a prominent spine. No 



canines. A recumbent spine anterior to the 



first dorsal fin ; three anal spines. Scales of 



moderate or small size, deciduous 10. AMBASSIS. 



B. vii. Opercle with a spine. No canines. Two 



anal spines. Scales large, deciduous 11. APOGON. 



B. vii. Opercle without spine. Canines present. 



Two anal spines. Scales large, deciduous . . 12. CHILODIPTERFS. 



Fifth group. G-ETSTINA. 



Body oblong or elevated. Opercles entire or variously serrated. 



Cleft of mouth more or less oblique. One dorsal. 

 B. vi. Preopercle serrated ; opercle with spines. 

 No canines. A single dorsal, deeply notched 

 between the ninth and tenth spiues ; three 

 anal spines 13. DULES. 



Sixth group. THEBAPOXINA. 



B. vi. Opercle with spines ; preopercle serrated. Cleft of mouth 

 somewhat oblique. Dorsal fin single, but more or less notched ; three 

 anal spines. Air-bladder divided by a constriction into an anterior and 

 posterior portion. 



