212 PISCES. 



length. The ventrals consist of a long filament dilated near the extremity. 

 They are also found in India. 



Stylephorus, Shaw. 

 A vertical caudal, as in Gymnetrus, but shorter; the extremity of the tail, 

 instead of being curved into a small hook, is prolonged into a slender cord 

 longer than the body. But one specimen is known. 



In a third tribe the snout is short, and the mouth cleft obliquely. 



Cepola, Lin. 

 A long dorsal and anal, both reaching to the base of the caudal, which is 

 tolerably large; no rise in the cranium; snout short; lower jaw curved up- 

 wards; the teeth prominent, and the ventrals suflSciently developed. 



LoPHOTES, Giorna. 

 A short head, surmounted with a high osseous crest; to whose summit a long 

 and stout spine is articulated, bordered behind with a membrane and a low 

 fin, whose rays are nearly all simple, extending from this spine to the point 

 of the tail, which has a distinct, but very small caudal. 



FAMILY IX. 



TPIEUTYES. 



Our ninth family is as closely allied to the Scomberoides as the 

 preceding one, but in other points, such as the armature, which is 

 found in several genera on the sides of the tail, or in others, the 

 horizontal spine before the dorsal, &.c. It contains but very few 

 genera; they all have a compressed, oblong body, a small mouth, 

 but slightly or not at all protractile, each jaw of which is armed with 

 a single range of trenchant teeth; palate and tongue without teeth, 

 and a single dorsal. They are herbivorous, feeding on fucus and 

 other marine plants. 



SiGANUS, Forsk. 

 These fishes have a remarkable character — unique, in icthyology — in their 

 ventrals, which are furnished with two spinous rays, one external, the other 

 internal; the three intermediate ones branching as usual. Tliey have five 

 branchial rays, and a horizontal spine before the dorsal. The styloid bones 

 of their shoulder curve as they lengthen, so as to unite at their extremities 

 with the first interspinal of the anal. Numerous species are found in the 

 Indian Ocean. 



