100 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



the property they possess of being able to 

 crawl out of the water, being enabled to re- 

 spire by means of the water contained in the 

 labyrinthic cells connected with the gills. 

 Some species are exhibited for this purpose 

 by Indian jugglers. (Labyrinthici, Cuv.) 



26. FAMILY. Stickle-Backs (Gasterosteidse). Body 



oblong, or linear ; back armed with a row of 

 small spines, or prickles ; snout often pro- 

 longed into a tube. 



27. FAMILY. Sea-Pikes (Sphyrsenidse). Body li- 



near ; jaws produced, broader than high ; 

 teeth strong, those in front much lengthened ; 

 dorsals two, triangular, remote ; ventral under 

 first dorsal. 



28. FAMILY. Gray-Mullets (Mugilidse). Body ob- 



long, sub-cylindrical ; scales large ; snout 

 short, obtuse, generally projecting beyond 

 mouth ; dorsals two, remote, the first of 

 strong spiny rays ; teeth very small ; eyes 

 large, close to snout ; caudal fin forked, or 

 lunated. 



29. FAMILY. Sea-Breams (Sparidae). Fins naked ; 



pectorals pointed ; caudal fin forked ; no 

 spines on operculum ; pre-operculum smooth ; 

 snout not gibbous ; teeth strong, none on 

 palatines. 



30. FAMILY. Maigres (Sciaenidse). Fins generally 



scaled at base ; operculum armed with spines ; 

 pre-operculum serrated ; teeth strong ; none 

 on vomer or palatines ; bones of cranium and 



