94 SCIENOIDES. SrAROIDES. SQU\MIPKN T NES. 



pounce upon them. These fishes cannot go very far in this way; 

 because the drying of the membrane which unites the rays of the 

 pectoral fins forces them soon to fall back again into the sea. 



J3. The FAMILY OF SCIENOIDES resembles the Percoides, but 

 is distinguished from them by the absence of teeth on the vomer 

 and palate. Tn general, the bones of the cranium and face are 

 cavernous, and the muzzle is more or less inflated. Almost all 

 the fishes of this group are good to eat, and many of them are 

 exquisite. To this family belong the Umbrina, which is a large, 

 good fish, the Corvina which is found in the Mediterranean, and 

 the Drum-fishes or Pagonias which inhabit our own coast ; the 

 last are remarkable for the noise they make, which is compared 

 to that of a drum. 



14. The FAMILY OF SPAROIDES has neither the inflated muzzle, 

 nor spiny operculum of the preceding; but the palate is free of 

 teeth, and the body is covered with scales of greater or less size, 

 and the mouth is not protractile. 



1 5. In the first tribe of this family, called Spams, we find on 

 each side of the jaws, round molar teeth, in form of paving stones, 



Fir 47 (F*9" 4^0 i sometimes there are also, in front of the 

 jaws, two cutting incisor teeth, almost similar to 

 those in man, (it is the case in the Sargns,) some 

 species of which live near the Mediterranean coasts: 

 at other times, we only find in front, some conical 

 or blunt teeth. The Daurades, Chrysophr is, are 

 TEETH OF A recognised by this latter character, and by the exis- 

 SARGUS. tence of at least three rows of molar teeth in the 

 tipper jaw. The Common Daurade is frequent on the coast of 

 Britany, as well as in the Mediterranean. Its body is oval, and 

 its mouth is furnished with four rows of molar teeth above, and 

 five below. It derives its name from its golden colour. 



J 6. The small family of MENIDES is composed of fishes that 

 very much resemble the Sparoides, but which are distinguished 

 from them by the mouth, which is very protractile, and, at the 

 will of the animal, converted into a tube. 



17. The FAMILY OF SQUAMIPENNES is recognised by having the 

 soft, and sometimes the spinous part of the dorsal and anal fins 

 covered by scales, and difficult to distinguish from the mass of 

 the body, which is compressed and also scaly. Some of the 

 Scienoides also have the fins incrusted with scales: but they 



13. What arc the characters and habits of the Scienoides? 

 14 How is the family of Sparoides characterised ? 



15. How arc the Danrades recognised? 



16. How are the Menides distinguished from the Sparoides ? 



17. What are the characters of the Squamipennes ? 



