138 PISCES. 



CiEsio, Lacep. 



Only differs from Smaris in a dorsal somewhat higher in front, and 

 surrounded at its base with fine scales. They inhabit the Indian 

 ocean, and are shaped like a spindle. (l) 



Gerres, Cuv. — Mochairciy in South America. 



The mouth protractile, but when advancing, it descends; the body 



is elevated, the anterior part of the dorsal in particular, along the 



base of whose posterior portion is a scaly sheath. They have no 



other teeth than those in the jaws, Avhich are small and crowded. 



The first interspinal of their anal fin is tabular as in certain Pagri. 



They are excellent food, and inhabit the hot parts of both oceans. (2) 



G. rhomheus, Cuv.; Sloane, II, pi. 253, f. 1. A species that is 



said to penetrate occasionally as far as the coast of Cornwall, 



following pieces of wood covered with Anatifse, carried there by 



the currents,(3) 



FAMILY VI. 



SQUAMIPENNES. 



So called, because the soft, and frequently the spinous 

 parts of their dorsal and anal fins are covered with scales, 

 which encrust them, as it were, and render it difficult to dis- 

 tinguish them from the mass of the body. This is the most 

 remarkable character of these fishes, the body of which is ge- 



(1) Csesio asuror, Lacep., Ill, 86, or Vackum, Valent., 132, or Cantkere douteux. 

 Diet. Class. d'Hist. Nat. livr. IV; — C. smaris, Cuv., or Vackum mare, Renard, I, 

 pi. 32, f. 174; — Bodianus argenteus, Bl., 231, or Picarel raillard, Quoy et Gaym., 

 Zool. Freycin. pi. 44, f. 3; — Sparus cuning, Bl., 263, or Cychla cuning, Bl. Schn., 

 p. 336. 



N.B. M. de Lacepede also makes a Caesio of the Scomber equula of Forskal, or 

 Centrogaster equula of Gmelin, which is our Equula caballa. 



(2) Lahrus vyena, Forsk., Rupp. Voy. Poiss., pi. Ill, x, 2, or Spare breton, 

 Lacep. iV, 134, or Labre long museau. Id. Ill, xix, 1, and p. 467; — Gerres aprion, 

 Cuv., Catesb., II, xi, 2; — G. rhombeus, Cuv., or Stone-bass, Sloane, Jam., II, pi. 

 253, f. 1; — G.poieti, Cuv., Ren., pi. ii, f. 9, Valent., No. 354; — G. lineatus, Cuv., 

 or Smaris lineatus, Humb., Zool. Obs. pi. xlvi, f. 2; — Gerres argyreus, Cuv., or 

 Scixna argyrca, Forster, or Cychla argyrea, Bl-, Schn..; — G . filamentosus, Cuv., or 

 Wordawahah, Russ., f. 68. 



(3) Couch, Lin. Trans., XIV, part. I, p. 81. 



