426 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [part iv. 



Family 5.— PEISTIPOMATID^. (25 Genera, 206 Species.) 



" Marine carnivorous fishes, with compressed oblong bodies, 

 and without molar or cutting teeth." 



Distribution. — Seas of temperate and tropical regions, a few 

 only entering fresh water. 



Of the more extensive genera, nine, comprising more than 

 half the species, are confined to the Indian and Australian seas, 

 while only one large genus (Hccmulon) is found in the Atlantic 

 on the coast of Tropical America. The extensive Pacific genus, 

 Diagramma, has one species in the Mediterranean. ' One genus 

 is confined to the Macquarie Eiver in Australia. A species of 

 Dentex has occurred on the English coast, and this seems to be 

 the extreme northern range of the family, which does not 

 regularly extend beyond the coast of Portugal, and in the East to 

 Japan. Australia seems to form the southern limit. 



Family 6.— MULLID^E. (5 Genera, 34 Species.) 



" Marine fishes, with elongate slightly compressed bodies 

 covered with large scales, and two dorsal fins at a distance from 

 each other." 



Distribution. — All tropical seas, except the West Coast o 

 America, extending into temperate regions as far as the Baltic, 

 Japan, and .New Zealand. 



Two species of Mullvs (Mullets) are British, and these are 

 the only European fish belonging to the family. 



Family 7.— SPAEID^. (22 Genera, 117 Species.) 



" Herbivorous or carnivorous marine fishes, with oblong com- 

 pressed bodies covered with minutely serrated scales, and with 

 one dorsal fin." 



Distribution. — Seas of temperate and tropical regions, a few 

 entering rivers. 



