126 PISCES. 



the back, and ten on the belly, arranged in two series, with smaller 

 intermediate ones. It was discovered in the Atlantic, by Peron.(l) 



FAMILY III. 

 SCIENOIDES. 



This family is closely related to the Percoides, and even 

 presents nearly similar combinations of external characters^ 

 particularly in the indentations of the preoperculum, and in 

 the spines of the operculum ; but both vomer and palatines 

 are without teeth ; the bones of the cranium and face are ge- 

 nerally cavernous and form a muzzle " more or less gibbous* 

 The vertical fins are frequently somewhat scaly. 



Some of the Scienoides have two dorsals, and others have 

 but one ; among the former we first find the genus, 



SciiENA, 



Whose common characters consist of a gibbous head, supported by 

 cavernous bones, two dorsals, or one deeply emarginate, whose soft 

 part is much longer than the spinous; a short anal, a dentated preo- 

 perculum, an operculum terminating in points, and seven branchial 

 rays. If it were not for the absence of the palatine teeth, these fishes 

 would resemble the Perches. The entire head is scaly; their nata- 

 tory bladder is frequently furnished with remarkable appendages, 

 and the stones in the sac of the ear are larger than in most fishes.(2) 

 We divide this genus as follows: 



SciiENA, Cuv. 



Spines of the anal, weak; neither canini nor cirri. 



Sc. wnbra, Cuv.; Peisrey of Languedoc; Fegaro of the Ge- 

 noese; Umbrina of the Romans, Sec. Six feet and more in 

 length; numerous branched appendages on each side of the na- 



(1) The fig. and detailed description will be found in our fourth vol. Oreosoma, 

 a mountainous body. 



(2) This determination of the genus Sciaena is in accordance with the opinion 

 of Artedi; it has been variously modified by Linnxus and his successors, but in 

 our opinion not very successful!}'. 



