198 PISCES. 



FAMILY IV. 



SPAROIDES. 



The Sparoidet, like the Scienoides, have a palate destitute of teeth. Their 

 general figure and several details of their organisation are the same; they are 

 also covered with scales more or less large, but they have none on the fins. 

 Their muzzle is not gibbous, nor are the bones of their head cavernous ; there 

 are neither indentations in their preoperculum, nor spines on their operculum. 

 They never have more than six rays in the branchiae. They are divided ac- 

 cording to the form of their teeth. 



In the first tribe, that of SPAHUS, Cuv., the sides of the jaw are furnished 

 with round molars like paving stones ; we subdivide it into 



Sargus, Pagrus, Chrysophris, and Pagelus, differing in certain dental pecu- 

 liarities. The Shepherd of the Philadelphia market belongs to the first 

 named genus. 



In the second tribe there is but one genus, 



DENTEX, Cuvier, 



Characterised by conical teeth even on the sides of the jaws, generally in 

 one range, some of the anterior of which are drawn out into large hooks. 

 They would be rather closely allied to the genus Hiemulon, were it not that 

 the indentation of the preoperculum is wanting, and that they have one ray 

 less in their branchiae. The cheek is scaly. Two species are found in the 

 Mediterranean. 

 A third tribe is also composed of a single genus, 



CANTHARUS, Cuvier. 



Teeth short and crowded, or bent and crowded all round the jaws ; those 

 of the external row being the strongest ; body elevated and thick ; muzzle 

 short ; jaws not protractile. Two species are found in the Atlantic and Medi- 

 terranean. 



In a fourth tribe, the teeth are trenchant. It comprises two genera, Boops 

 and Oblada. 



FAMILY V. 



MENIDES. 



THE Menides differ from the preceding families in the extreme extensi- 

 bility and retractility of their upper jaw, which is owing to the length of the 

 intermaxillary pedicles which withdraw between the orbits. Their body is 

 scaly, as in Sparus, in which genus they have hitherto been placed. 



There are four genera: viz. Mccno, Smaris, Ca-sio, and Gcrrca, distin- 

 guished from each other by the absence of teeth, dorsal higher in front, and by 

 having the mouth protractile. 



