52 SPHYILENIDJE ; SCLENIDJS ; SPARID^E ; CELETODONTIDJE. 



E, have the opercula unarmed, the scales, which extend 



over the sides of the head, smooth, and the ventral fins placed 

 upon the belly. They are elongated, active, and predaceous 

 fishes, with the jaws armed with formidable teeth; they live 

 principally in the seas of tropical climates, although one or two 

 species are found in the Mediterranean. The Barracuda of 

 tropical America is a large and powerful fish, the bite of which 

 is much dreaded ; its flesh, however, is a very palatable article 

 of food. The SCI^INID^E, or Maigres, also have the sides of the 

 head scaly, but the scales are rough ; in the arrangement of the 

 fins and the possession of teeth on the opercula they resemble the 

 Perches, but the bones of the palate are not furnished with 

 teeth. The Maigres are of large size, and very rapacious. They 

 swim in little shoals, uttering a peculiar grunting noise, which 

 is said to be audible even when the Fishes are at a considerable 

 depth in the water. The common Maigre of the Mediterranean 

 occurs occasionally on the British coasts. The SPAKID^;, or Sea- 

 Breams, are also large Perch-like fishes, which closely resemble 

 those of the preceding family, differing from them principally 

 in the want of spines on the opercula. They are generally 

 found in warm climates. The teeth are sometimes acute, and 

 sometimes broad and rounded, and adapted for crushing the 

 shells of Mollusca. 



613. From these we pass to the CH^ETODONTID^E, sometimes 

 called SQUAMIPENNES, or Scaly-jinned fishes ; which are thus 

 designated, from the soft, and even the spiny, portion of the 

 dorsal fins being so covered with scales, as not to be easily dis- 

 tinguished from the rest of their bodies. The body, too, is 

 usually itself much compressed, or flattened laterally. The 

 Chcetodons, which constitute the types of this family, are beauti- 

 fully-coloured fishes of singular figure, abounding in the seas of 

 the hotter climates. Their most common tints are black and 

 yellow; but metallic blues and greens are not unfrequent. 

 Sometimes the colours are disposed in spots; but mostly in 

 stripes or bands. They generally haunt rocky shores ; and their 

 flesh is considered excellent food. One species of this family, 

 the Chelmon rostratus, is remarkable for the manner in which it 



