572 Surmullets, Croakers, etc. 
ear-bones not clearly identifiable are found from the Miocene 
on. These structures are more highly specialized in this group 
than in any other. 
Fic. 465—Drum, Pogonias chromis (Linneus). Matanzas, Fla. 
The Sillaginidz, etc.—Allied to the Sctenide is the small family 
of Kisugos, Sillaginide, of the coasts of Asia. These are slender, 
cylindrical fishes, silvery in color, with a general resemblance 
to small Sctenas. 
Sillago japonicus, the kisugo of Japan, is a very abundant 
species, valued as food. Svzllago sthama ranges from Japan to 
Abyssinia. 
A number of small families, mostly Asiatic, may be appended 
to the percoid series, with which they agree in general characters, 
especially in the normal structure of the shoulder-girdle and 
in the insertion of the pectoral and ventral fins. 
The Lactartide constitute a small family of the East Indies, 
allied to the Scienide, but with three anal spines. The mouth 
is armed with strong teeth. Lactarius lactarius is a food-fish of 
India. 
The Nandide are small spiny-rayed fishes of the East Indian 
streams, without pseudobranchiz. 
The Polycentride are small fresh-water perch-like fishes of 
the streams of South America, without lateral line and with 
many anal spines. 
