122 Mr. C. T. Regan on the 



more or less in the shape of an S ; distal extremity exposed ; 

 no supramaxillary ; palate toothless. Vertebrae 24 (10+ 14) ; 

 first 3 without pai'apophyses ; first rib sessile, rest on 

 parapophyses. 



In Gerres, Eucinostomus, he, there are 10 soft rays in the 

 dorsal fin and the second suborbital emits a triangular 

 internal lamina; in Pentaprion, Liognathus, and Gazza 

 there are 15 or 16 soft rays in the dorsal fin, the suborbitals 

 are not or but feebly ossified, and there is no subocular shelf. 

 The two last-named genera differ from the others in their 

 small scales and in having the gill-membranes attached to 

 the isthmus. 



Fam. 27. Pomadasidae. 



Closely related to the Lutianidae, differing especially in 

 the absence of a subocular shelf. Palate toothless, or small 

 teeth on the vomer. Vertebrae 2G-27 (10-11 + 16-17), the 

 praecaudals with parapophyses from the third or fourth, the 

 ribs inserted on the parapophyses when these are developed. 

 Outer face of palatine with a ridge along its posterior edge. 



Principal genera : Xenichlhys, Xenocys, Xenistius, Para- 

 pristipoma, Pkctorhynchus, Boridia, Conodon, Pomadasis, 

 Heemulon. 



Fam. 28. Sciaenidae. 



After the exclusion of ArrijAs this is a very natural group, 

 closely related to the Lutianidae, differing especially in that 

 the soft dorsal is usually more elongate and the anal has 

 only one or two spines ; the scaly axillary process of the 

 pelvic fin may be present or absent. The mouth is formed 

 as in the Lutiauidae, the maxillary without a supramaxillary, 

 either concealed or at least slipping under the praeorbital 

 and first suborbital for the entire length of its upper edge ; 

 the teeth in the jaws are usually villiform, sometimes 

 lanceolate ; the palate is toothless. Muciferous channels 

 are well developed on the upper surface of the head ; the 

 subocular shelf, when present, is a small and usually slender 

 process of the second suborbital. The vertebrae number 24 

 to 30 ; the anterior praecaudals without parapophyses and 

 with sessile ribs, the posterior ribs inserted on parapophyses. 



The genera of this very varied family are numerous 

 {cf. Jord. & Everm. Fish N. Am. p. 1392). 



Boulenger's definition, that the anal is much shorter than 

 the soft dorsal, does not hold good. Seriphus, Ay res, with 

 the anal fin rather longer than the soft dorsal, has the 

 skeleton of a typical Sciaeuid. 



