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THE SPAROIl) FAMILY, OK SEA lUlEAMS. 



These fishes arc compressed in the form and proportions 

 of their body and cheeks, with a tendency to an oval in the 

 outline; the checks and body firmly clothed Avith scales, but 

 not having them extended over the fins. Anterior portion of 

 the dorsal fin with spinous rays, the hinder jiortion having 

 soft and branched rays. The jaAvs usually or nearly equal, 

 but the teeth subject to much variety; and as the sjsecies are 

 numerous, a large part of which inhabit warmer climates 

 than our own, naturalists have found it necessarv to divide 

 them into several sections or genera, which is most convenientlv 

 done according to the form and arrangement of their teeth. 

 It is the consequence of this that there exists a near affinity 

 between these several genera, and that, indeed, it often haji- 

 pcns there is less difterence in the characters of some of the 

 genera than is found between the sjiecies in other departments 

 of nature. 



As is the case Avith other fishes Avhich come to us from 

 warmer or brighter seas, either as periodical or wandering 

 visitors, they are subject to change of colour, and rcmarkablv 

 so when in their highest condition, as compared with their 

 emaciated or lower state. And as it is not always convenient 

 to destroy a specimen, Avliich must often be done if we wish 

 to examine the full course of the teeth, it need not surprise 

 us if it hajipen that the rarer species have not been always 

 clearly recognised; and consequently that they have not been 

 in every case referred to the proper synonymes, as designated by 

 other observers. Such mistakes have been laid to the charge 

 of some of our most careful authors; and it is in order that 

 1 may keep clear of the misfortune of increasing such errors, 

 that, in describing the sjiecies Avhich have been recorded as 

 occurring in Britain, my references to others, and especially to 

 foreign writers, will be less frequent than usual, or as might 



