PBEOIDjE. 



391 



equal in length anteriorly, or with the lower somewhat projecting. 

 Teeth villiform ; palate generally toothless. One dorsal, with 

 from nine to thirteen very feeble spines, with the anterior part 

 highest, and the posterior covered with minute scales. Caudal 

 fin deeply forked. Pr^operculum without, or with minute, 

 serrature. 



■ Small fishes from the Indo-Pacific. Twelve species. 



Erythrichthys. — Body elongate, covered with small ciliated 

 scales. Mouth very protractile, the pedicles of the intermaxillary 

 extending to the occiput. Dentition quite rudimentary or entirely 

 absent. Two dorsal fins connected by a series of very feeble 

 spines ; also the anterior spines are feeble. Prseoperculum not 

 serrated. 



Fig. 161. — Erythriclithys nitklus. 





Fig. 162. — Enlarged scale. 



Fig. 163. — Protractile mouth. 



Small fishes from various tropical and temperate seas. 

 Four species : the species figured occurs, but is not common, 



