204 FISHES. 



1. Small fresh water fishes (1 to 6 inches long) ; elongated 



or fusiform, often brightly colored; the fins espe- 

 cially the pectorals well developed ; anal spines one or 

 two ; branchiostegals 6. . ETHEOSTOMATID^E, 89 



2. Pectoral fins very long, reaching at least to anal, with 3 



detached appendages or else several connected, forming 

 an additional fin cheeks mailed ; head bony. 



Tricjlidm, the Gurnards. 



3. With 7 or 8 filiform appendages on each side below the 



pectorals ; cheeks not mailed. 



PolynemidcK, the Thread-Fishes. 



4. Throat with two long barbels. Mullidce, the Surmullets. 



5. Dorsal spines only two ; scales minute, imbedded in the 



skin. . . . RhypticidcK, the Soap Fishes. 



6. Yentrals abdominal ; body elongated ; scales cycloid ; 



teeth stout. . . Sphyrmnidce, the Barracudas. 



7. With none of the above combinations ; ventrals mostly 



thoracic. 



a. Some or all of opercular bones, more or less serrated 

 or spinous. 



b. With teeth on the vomer. 



c. First dorsal low and weak of 8 spines ; scales small ; 



one or more minute spines in front of anal ; 



teeth strong. . Pomatomidm, the Blue Fishes. 



cc. Dorsal spines stout ; scales ctenoid ; no free anal 



spines. 



d. Ventrals 1-5 ; branchiostegals usually 7. 

 e. Cleft of mouth horizontal or oblique ; scales 

 firm. 



Anal spines 2, sometimes obscure. 



^ERCID^E, 90. 



Anal spines 3, distinct. . LABRACID^S, 91. 

 ee. Cleft of mouth nearly vertical ; scales large, 



deciduous. ChilodipteridcK, theApogons. 

 dd. Ventrals 1-7 .; branchiostegals 8 ; anal spines 4. 



) the Berycoids. 



