ACANTHOPTERYGII. 207 



A third tribe is also composed of a single genus, 



Cantharus, Cuv. 

 Teeth short and crowded, or bent and crowded all round the jaws: those 

 of the external row being the strongest; body elevated and thick; muzzle 

 short; jaws not protractile. Two species are found in the Atlantic and 

 Mediterranean. 



In a fourth tribe the teeth are trenchant. It comprises two genera, 

 Boops and Oblada. 



FAMILY V. 



MENIDES. 



The Menides differ from the preceding families in the extreme ex- 

 tensibihty and retractility of their upper jaw, which is owing to the 

 length of the intermaxillary pedicles which withdraw between the 

 orbits. Their body is scaly, as in Sparus, in which genus they have 

 hitherto been placed. 



There are four genera: viz. Mxna, Smans, Csesio and Gerres. 



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 distinguish them from the 

 mass of the body. This is the most remarkable character of these 

 fishes, the body of which is generally much compressed, and the in- 

 testines long. They were comprised by Linnseus in the genus 



CHiETODON. 

 So named from their teeth, which in length and tenuity resemble hairs, col- 

 lected in several close rows like a brush. Their mouth is small; their dorsal 

 and anal fins are so completely covered with scales similar to those on the 

 back, that it is extremely difficult to ascertain where they commence. These 

 fishes are very abundant in the seas of hot climates, and are adorned with 

 the most beautifiil colours, circumstances which have caused many to be 



