ACANTHOPTERYGII. 237 



Chaetodon Art., many species from trop. Atl. and Indo-Pac. ; 

 Chelmo Cuv., with long slender bill; Heniochus , Holacanthus, Po- 

 macanthus, Scatophagus, Ephippus, Drepane, Scorpis, Atypichthys. 



Teitthis L. (Acanthurus Forsk., young form Acronurus), Naseus, Prio- 

 nurus, Xesurus J. and E., may be placed in the neighbourhood of the 

 Chaetodontidae. 



Fam. 88. Osphromenidae. Second suborbital with a more or less 

 developed internal lamina ; entopterygoid present ; palate toothed. 

 Two nostrils on each side ; gills 4, a slit behind 4th ; pseudobranch 

 absent. Pel vies with not more than 5 soft rays. A super branchial 

 respiratory organ, placed in a cavity above the gills. F.w. fishes 

 resembling the Anabantidae, and confined to S.E. Asia and Africa ; 

 7 genera. Polyacanthus K. and v. H., E. Ind. Arch., beautiful 

 colours, some species domesticated and several varieties produced, 

 one called paradise-fish ; Osphromenus Commers., O. olfax Com- 

 mers., the gourami ; Betta Bleek, B. pugnax Cant., pla-kat or fighting 

 fish, very pugnacious ; they are kept by the Siamese for fighting ; when 

 two are brought together or a single one sees its reflection in a glass, they 

 become greatly excited and shine with a metallic lustre, and make repeated 

 darts at each other. Micracanthus, Trichogaster, Luciocephalus, Helostoma. 



Fam. 89. Embiotocidae. Viviparous fishes (eggs developing in a 

 saccular enlargement of the oviduct), temp. N. Pacific. Ditrema, 

 Hysterocarpus, Cymaiogaster. 



Fam. 90. Cichlidae (Chromides). No subocular shelf ; entopterygoid 

 present ; palate toothless ; lower pharyngeal bones more or less com- 

 pletely united. A single nostril on each side. Gill-membranes free from 

 the isthmus ; 5 or 6 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a slit behind the 

 4th ; no pseudobranch. Dorsal fin more or less elongate, with numerous 

 spines ; anal with 3 spines or more ; pelvics with 1 spine and 5 

 soft rays. F.w. or brackish water forms ; variable in form and 

 dentition. The eggs and young are cared for by the parents, male or 

 female, which shelter them in the mouth. About 45 genera, Afr., Mada- 

 gascar, Syria, India, C. and S.Amer. The fish-fauna of Lake Tanganyika 

 is largely made up of this family. Etroplus, Chromis, Acara. Heros, 

 Cichla, etc. 



Fam. 91. Pomacentridae. Marine fishes living chiefly near coral reefs, 

 similar in mode of life to Chaetodon. Pomacentrus, Amphiprion, Parma, 

 etc. 



Fam. 92. Labridae. Wrasses. No subocular shelf, entopterygoid 

 present, palate toothless ; anterior teeth usually strong and canine- 

 like ; posterior teeth often soldered at the base ; lower pharyngeals com- 

 pletely united into one bone with conical or tubercular teeth. Two nostrils 

 on each side. Body covered with cycloid scales ; one dorsal fin with the 

 spinous portion as well developed as, or more than the soft ; the soft 

 anal similar to the soft dorsal ; pelvics thoracic with 1 spine and 5 

 soft rays ; branchiostegals 5 or 6 ; gills 3i ; pseudobranch and 

 air-bladder present ; pyloric caeca and stomach caecum absent ; 60 

 genera, temp, and trop. seas, diminishing towards Arctic and Antarctic 

 circles, among rocks and kelp ; often brilliantly coloured and valued as 

 food fishes, are readily recognized by their thick lips. British genera are 

 Labrus Art., L. maculatus Bl. ballan wrasse, L. mixtus L. striped wrasse 

 or cook ; Crenilabrus Cuv., C, melops L. gold-sinny or cork- wing ; 

 Ctenolabrus C. and V., Ct. rupestris L. ; Acantholabrus C. and V. ; 



