424 FISHES. 



vomer and palatine bones. Opercular bones and praeorbital 

 serrated ; operculum with two spines behind ; a large spine at 

 the angle of the prseoperculum. Scales ctenoid, of moderate 

 size. Two dorsals, the iirst with twelve spines ; anal with four 

 spines, the third being very long and strong; caudal forked. 

 Ventrals with seven soft rays. 



About thirty species are known from the tropical seas of 

 both hemispheres ; all are surface fishes, and very common. 

 The young have the upper part of the snout pointed and 



Fig. 185. — Holocentrum imipuiictatuiii, from the South Sea. 



elongate, and were described as a distinct genus {RhyncMA- 

 thys). The coloration of the adult is uniform ; red, pink, and 

 silvery prevailing. They attain to a length of about 15 inches, 

 and are esteemed as food. 



Third Division — Acanthopteeygii Kurtifoembs. 



One dorsal fin only, much shorter than the anal, which is 

 long and many-rayed. No su^perhranchial organ. 



One family only belongs to this division. 



Family — Kurtidje. 



Body compressed, ohlong, deep in front, attemuited behind. 

 Snout short. The spines of the short dorsal are few in number, 



