











ICHTHYOLOGY. 



17 



Family MAENIDAE. 



In their general aspect the representatives of this family resemble the Sparidae to a very 

 great extent: the spinous portion of the dorsal finis either continuous with the soft portion, 

 else more or less separated from it. The insertion of the ventrals being placed under the base 

 of the pectorals or somewhat posteriorly to it, and the caudal fin more or less emarginated or 

 furcated. The essential differences consisting in the protractility of the mouth, and the presence 

 upon the jaws of velvet-like teeth, and occasionally of a few canines. Similar velvet-like teeth 

 may be observed : sometimes on the vomer, at others, on the palatine bones ; else the palate 

 is perfectly smooth or toothless* The edge cf the preopercle is serrated in some and entire in 



others. 



EUCINOSTOMUS, B. & G. 



Gen. Char. — Mouth small and very protractile, which, when protruded, presents a sub-conico-tubular appearance ; lips thin ; 

 maxillar teeth ; palate and tongue toothless ; opercular apparatus without either spines or serratures. Gill apertures continuous 

 under the throat. First dorsal fin contiguous to the second at the base ; outline between the two depressed. Caudal fin 

 furcated. Three spiny rays at the anterior margin of the anal. Scales well developed. 



Syn. — Eucinostomus , B. & G. in Ninth Ann. Rep. Smiths, lnstit. (1854) 1855, 334. 



The second spine, in both the dorsal and anal fins, is much less developed than in Gerres, to 

 which genus the present one hears close affinities. The same remark applies to the spine of 

 the ventral fins. Another distinctive trait between Gerres and Eucinostomus consists in the 

 former having the edge of the preopercle serrated, whilst it is perfectly smooth in the latter. 



EUCINOSTOMUS AKGENTEUS, B . & G . 



Plate IX, Figs, 9—12, 



Spec. Char. — The body is rather short and deep, the greatest depth at the thoracic region being a little more than the 

 third of the total length. The head, which is sub-pyramidal, constitutes about the fourth of the total length; the mouth, 

 when retracted, exhibits a horizontal gape, and then the posterior extremity of the maxillary extends to a vertical line drawn 

 inwardly to the anterior rim of the orbit. The eye is large and circular ; its diameter being contained but three times in the 

 length of the side of the head. The nostrils are situated towards the upper surface of the snout and nearer the orbit than the 

 extremity of the jaws. The base of the spinous portion of the dorsal fin is somewhat shorter than that of the soft portion of 

 the same fin. The posterior extremity of the dorsal is nearly even with that of the anal. The pectorals are longer and more 



slender than the ventrals. 



Syn. — Eucinostomus argenteus, B. &. G. in Ninth Ann. Rep. Smiths. lnstit. (1854) 1855, 335. 



The scales are deeper than long, anteriorly truncated, and rounded upon the remaining three 

 margins. Radiating furrows may he observed upon the anterior section of the scale, and the 

 lines of growth, instead of being concentrical or suh-concentrical, are absolutely vertical. The 

 posterior section is cellular, and the pectinations, if they exist at all, must be exceedingly 

 minute, for we have not detected them. 



Br. IY: IV; D IX, 10; A III, 8 ; 5,1,8,8,14; VI, 5; P 13. 



The ground color is silvery ; the dorsal region being of a light reddish brown, with a darker 

 spot upon the centre of the scales. A black spot at the summit of the spinous dorsal. Trans- 

 verse, blackish bands or fasciae may be observed in very young specimens. 



Plate IX, fig. 9, represents Eucinostomus argenieus, size of life. Fig. 10, is a scale from the 

 dorsal region ; fig. 11, a scale from the lateral line; and fig. 12, a scale from the abdominal 



region 



3 i 



