562 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



(3) Scanida, (Gr. sJciaina, a sea-fish.) 



The Maigres. These resemble Perches, but live in the sea, 

 and attain to a great size. They make a sort of purring sound. 

 The air-bladder is long, tapering, and fringed along each side, 

 giving it a singular appearance ; the head is generally enlarged 

 with cavernous swellings. Among the American fishes of this 

 family are the WEAK-FISH, Otolithus regalis, abundant on the 

 Atlantic coast, and an excellent salt-water fish. It is called 

 Salt-water Trout on the southern shores. The RED-BASS, or Sea- 

 bass, Corvina oceUala, is taken off the coast as far north as Long 

 Island Sound, and for food, is highly prized. The LAFAYETTE, 

 or CHUB, Leioslomus obliquus, abounds on the coasts of the Mid- 

 dle States, and is in some estimation for food. A species, L. 

 xanthurus, (Gr. yellow-tail,) known as the YELLOW JACK, or 

 YELLOW TAIL, is found off the coast of South Carolina. The 

 KING-FISH, Umbrina nebulosa, distinguished from others of the 

 family by a cirrus or tuft on the under jaw, is thought by many 

 to be the best fish which appears in the New York market. 

 The Drum, Pogonias chromis, (Gr. pogonias, bearded ; chromis, 

 a fish,) is a large and fine flavored fish. 



(4) Sparida, (from Lat. sparus, gilt-head.) 



The SEA BREAMS. These fishes have flat grinding teeth, 

 sometimes strong pointed canines in front. The common Gilt- 

 head, chrysophris, (Gr. chrusophrus,) aurata, can crush such 

 thick stony shells as the Periwinkles, Whelks and Turbos, (or 

 Tops ;) a more voracious fish is scarcely known. The famed 

 SHEEPSHEAD, Sargus ovis, abundant on the coast, and much es- 

 teemed for food, is of this family. 



(5) Maenida, (Gr. maine, a small sea-fish.) 



The MENDOLES. This is comparatively a small fa-mily, (not 

 mentioned on the Chart.) The common Mendole, Maena vu/ga- 

 ris, is considered so utterly worthless that the name is used at 

 Venice as a term of derision. A West India species decom- 

 poses with remarkable rapidity, the flesh becoming soft almost 

 immediately after it is dead. The species of the genus Smarts, 

 (Gr. a sea-fish,) are sought for in the Mediterranean. One spe- 

 cies is called the KING-FISHER of the Sea, <S. alcedo, in allusion 

 to its beautiful tints. 



(6) Chaetodontida, (Gr. chaite, hair or bristle ; odous, tooth.) 

 The Chaetodons. These are thus named because their teeth 



are so long, fine and slender as to resemble the bristles of a 

 brush. Cuvier called them Squamipennes, to express the man- 

 ner in which their fleshy fins are covered with scales, like the 

 rest of the body, which is flat or round, and thin, with long bat- \ 



