PERCID^. 383 



minute scales imbedded in the thick skin. All the teeth are 

 villiform ; teeth on the vomer and palatine bones. Two dorsal 

 fins, the first with seven spines. Prseoperculum without serra- 

 ture, but with three short spines. A short skinny barbel is 

 frequently developed at the chin. 



Three species are known from the Indo-Pacific ; they are 

 of small size. One, G. orientalis, is black, with six or seven 

 white longitudinal stripes, and one of the most common 

 coast-fishes of that ocean. 



Ehtptiuus. — Body oblong, compressed, covered with minute 

 scales imbedded in the thick skin. All the teeth are villiform ; 

 teeth on the vomer and palatine bones. The spines of the ver- 

 tical fins are but little developed, always in small number and 

 short, and may disappear entirely. Prseoperculum not serrated, 

 with some obtuse spines. 



rour species are known : three from the West Indies 

 and one from the Galapagoes Islands. 



Other genera allied to the two preceding are Aulacoce- 

 phalus from Mauritius, Eeunion, and Japan ; and Myriodon 

 from the coasts of Australia. 



DiPLOPEioN.' — Body rather elevated, compressed, with small 

 scales. All the teeth villiform ; teeth on the vomer and pala- 

 tine bones. Two dorsal fins, the first with eight spines ; anal 

 with two. Prseoperculum with a double denticulated limb. 



The single species known {D. hifasciatwm), is very com- 



Fig. 153. — Mesoprion monostigma. 



mon in the East Indian Archipelago, and on the coasts of 



