CENTRARCHUXE. XCH. 235 



palatine teeth little developed, or more usually 

 wanting. 



h. Lower pharyngeals narrow, formed as in Lepiopo- 

 the teeth rounded, not truncate above ^gill- 

 rakers rather long and slender; spines rather 

 high. .... XYSTROPLITES, 8. 

 Jili. Lower pharyngeals broad, concave, with large 

 truncate teeth close together; gill-rakers short 

 and thick, more or less strongly dentate ; spines 



high EUPOMOTIS, 9. 



dd. Operculuni emarginate behind, ending in two flat points, 

 with a dermal border ; caudal fin rounded behind ; gill- 

 rakers in small number, long and strong, dentate; 

 species of small size and brilliant coloration. 



h. Dorsal fin angulated, the middle spines longer than 

 some of the posterior ones ; supplemental maxillary 

 wanting ( V or rudimentary) ; anal spines 3 ; dorsal 

 10. MESOOO^ISTITS, 10. 



hh. Dorsal fin continuous ; supplemental maxillary bone 

 well developed. 



i. Dorsal spines 9; anal 3. . ENXEACAXTHUS. 11. 

 ii. Dorsal* spines 8; anal 4. . HEMIOPLITES, 12. 

 Hi. Dorsal spiues 10: anal 4: anal fin with an elongate 

 basis, its anterior rays being advanced. 



C'OPELAXDIA, 13. 



** Dorsal and anal fins about equal in extent, the soft portions 

 of the latter longest and most posterior, the two fins being 

 obliquely opposed; lower jaw longest; supplemental max- 

 illary bone present; palatine teeth present; operculum 

 emarginate behind ; gill-rakers setiform, very long, finely 

 dentate, in large number (20 to 30 of the large ones on an- 

 terior branchial arch) ; fins large, the soft rays of the dorsal 

 and anal each with 14 to 18 rays; caudal fin emarginate; 

 scales not strongly ctenoid (Centrarchince). 



j. Spinous dorsal longer than soft part, the spines about 12 in 

 number, not rapidly graduated; anal spines normally 8: 

 body deep; mouth moderate. . CENTKAKCIIUS, 14. 



