208 PISCES. 



figured, and rendered them common in our cabinets. They frequent rocky 

 shores, and are eaten. 



This genus is now divided into various subgenera, the most remarkable of 

 which is 



CHELMON, Cuv. 



Separated from Chsetodon on account of the extraordinary form of the snout, 

 which is long and slender, only open at the extremity, and formed by a most 

 excessive prolongation of the intermaxillary and lower jaw. Their teeth 

 are very fine and crowded, rather than like hairs. 



One species, Chast. restrains, L. , has the faculty of spurting drops of water 

 on the insects it perceives on the shore, and thus bringing them within 

 reach. It is a common pastime of the Chinese at Java. 



The following genera, which we place next to Chastodon on ac- 

 count of their scaly fins, differ greatly from it, however, in the teeth 

 with which their palatines and vomer are furnished. The genus 



BRAMA, Bl. Schn. 



Is connected with this family by the scales covering the vertical fins, which 

 have but a small number of spinous rays concealed in their anterior edges; 

 but they have slender, bent teeth in the jaws and palatines, an elevated 

 profile, very short snout, a forehead descending vertically, and a mouth, 

 when shut, that is almost vertical; the scales extend on to the maxillaries; 

 there are seven rays in the branchiae; a dorsal and low anal, but commencing 

 in a salient point. 



But one species is known, Sparus Rait, Bl., it inhabits the Mediterranean, 

 and sometimes strays into the ocean; an excellent fish, of a burnished steel 

 colour, which attains a large size, but is infested with various species of in- 

 testinal worms. 



PEMPHERIS, Cuv. 



A long and scaly anal, the dorsal short and elevated; head obtuse; the eye 

 large; a small spine on the operculum; small crowded teeth on the jaws, 

 vomer and palatines. From the Indian Ocean. 



TOXOTES, Cuv. 



The body short and compressed, the dorsal placed on the last half of the 

 body, with very stout spines, the soft part, as well as that of the anal which 

 corresponds to it, scaly; the snout depressed, short; lower jaw projecting 

 beyond the upper one; the small crowded teeth veiy short in both jaws, 

 the extremity of the vomer, palatines, pterygoids, and on the tongue; six 

 rays in the branchiae, inferior edge of the infra-orbital and preoperculum, 

 finely serrate. 



