ACANTHOPTERYGIANS. 123 



cal and trenchant. The hody is oblong, the head obtuse, and the fins 

 thickened by the scales which cover them; from which circumstance their 

 name is derived*. They are oval fishes, smooth, and covered with brown 

 scales; they inhabit both oceans -f-. 



A neighbouring genus is that of 



DlPTERODON J, 



Which has the teeth also trenchant, but cut sloping and not geniculate, 

 and the spinous portion of the dorsal separated from the soft part by 

 deep emargination. The Cape, or 



Dipt, capensis, Cuv., is the only species known. 

 The following genera, which we place next to Chastodon on account 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., 



The Sea-Breams, are 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 teeth placed like cards 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 as far as on the maxillaries; there are seven rays in the 

 branchiae; alow dorsal and anal, but commencing m a salient point; a 

 short stomach ; a small intestine, and only five caeca. 



But one species is known, Sparus Raii, Bl. 273; 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 in- 

 fested with various species of intestinal worms. 



Pempiieris, Cuv., 



Have a long and scaly anal, the dorsal short and elevated ; head obtuse ; 

 the eye large; a small spine on the operculum; small crowded teeth in 

 the jaws, vomer, and palatines. From the Indian Ocean ||. 



* Pimelepterus (fat fin). This genus of Lacepede, IV, 429, formed from Bosc, is 

 the same as that of Xistere, V, 484, formed from Commerson; and there is every 

 reason to believe that the Dorsuaire, Lacep. V, 482, which is certainly identical with 

 the Kyphose, III, 114, may very possibly also be the same as the Xisterus. 



+ The Pimeloptere bosquien, Lacep. IV, ix, 1, or Chcetodon eyprinaceus, Brousso- 

 net; — the Pirn, marciac, Quoy et Gaym. Voy. Freycin. pi. 62, f. 4; — Pirn, du Cap, or 

 Kiphose double bosse, Lacep. Ill, viii, 1; — a Brazil species, formerly named by 

 Bankes Chcetodon ensis. 



\ This genus, the name of which is borrowed from Lac6p., does not, however, 

 contain the same species. 



§ I strongly suspect that it is the Brama which M. Rafinesque has in view, in his 

 Lepodus saragus, Nouv. Gen. No. 144. Shaw makes two species of it, but why, 

 it is impossible to say, the Sp. Raii, and Sp. castaneola ; the latter after Lacep.; but 

 Lacep. made his genus only for the species of Bloch and Ray. 



|| Pempheris touca, Cuv., Sparus argenteus, J.White, App. 267, or Kurlus argen- 

 tens, Bl. Schn. 164;— P. mangula, Cuv., Russ. 1 14;— P. molucca, Cuv., Ren. I, xv, 

 85, and Valent. No. 46. 



