ACANTHOPTERYGII. 81 



BONY FISHES. 

 ORDER I. ACANTHOPTERYGII.* 



A VAST majority of all known Fishes are con- 

 tained in this Order, which is distinguished by the 

 first rays of the dorsal fin, the first of the anal, and 

 generally, one in the ventrals, being spinous. Some- 

 times instead of the first dorsal fin, there are only a 

 few unconnected spines. 



FAM. I. - PERCAD^.f 



In this large family, named after the common 

 Perch, which may be considered as its representative, 

 the body is more or less oblong ; the scales generally 

 hard and rough, with toothed edges ; the gill covers 

 (operculd) edged with saw-like teeth or spines ; the 

 mouth large ; the jaws, the vomer, (or middle ridge of 

 the palate,) and the palate, furnished with teeth ; the 

 fins always seven in number and sometimes eight ; 

 the colours often very ornamental ; the flesh usually 

 well flavoured and wholesome. 



Many of the genera have the ventral or belly fins 

 inserted under the pectorals : hence named Thoracic 

 Perches. 



akantka, a thorn, and wri{v%, pteryx, a fin. 

 t I\ixv, perke, a perch. 



