206 PISCES. 



These divisions are Hasmulon, Pristoma, and Diagramma. 



The Scienoides with a single dorsal and less than seven branchial 

 rays, are still more subdivided: in some of them the lateral line ex- 

 tends to the caudal; in others it is interrupted. 



Those Scienoides which have less than seven branchial rays and 

 an interrupted lateral line, form several genera of small oval fishes, 

 prettily coloured, which may be distinguished by the armature of 

 their head. They are manifestly related to the genus Chaetodon, 

 and resemble, externally, several of our fishes with labyrinthian 

 branchiae. 



The genera are Amphiprion, Premnas, Pomacentrus, &c. 



FAMILY IV. 



SPAROIDES. 



The Sparoides, like the Scienoides, have a palate destitute of 

 teeth. Their general figure and several details of their organization 

 are the same; they are also covered with scales more or less large, 

 but they have none on the fins. Their muzzle is not gibbous, nor are 

 the bones of their head cavernous; there are neither indentations in 

 their preoperculum, nor spines on their operculum. They never 

 have more than six rays in the branchiae. They are divided accord- 

 ing to the form of their teeth. 



In the first tribe, that of Sparxjs, Cuv. the sides of the jaws are 

 furnished with round molars like paving-stones; we subdivide it into 



Sargus, Pagrus, Chrysophris, and Pagelus, differing in certain dental pecu- 

 liarities. The celebrated Sheephead of the Philadelphia market belongs to 

 the first named genus. 



In the second tribe there is but one genus, 



Dentex, Cuv. 

 Characterized by conical teeth even on the sides of the jaws, generally in 

 one range, some of the anterior of which are drawn out into large hooks. 

 They would be rather closely allied to the genus Haemulon, were it not that 

 the indentation of the preoperculum is wanting, and that they have one ray 

 less in their branchise. The cheek is scaly. Two species are found in the 

 Mediterranean. 



