466 



PISCES— SUB-CLASS III.—TELEOSTOMI. 



The numerous representatives of the sea-breams are perhaps best char- 

 acterised by tlie dentition, which takes the form either of cutting teeth in 

 the fore-part of the jaws, or of grinding teeth on the sides 

 Family Sparidae. of the same, the palate being in most cases edentulous. The 

 dorsal fin is single, with its spinous and rayed portions of 

 nearly equal longitudinal extent, and there are always three spines to the 

 anal. The pelvics, which are thoracic in position, include five rays and a 

 single spine, and although simple in one genus, in the other the rays of the 

 pectorals are branched. The scales may be either very slightly serrated or 

 simple, and the mouth is situated at the tip of the snout, with its cleft 

 lateral. In form, these fishes may be described as normal, while in colora- 

 tion they are dull. Although none grow to large dimensions, nearly all are 

 eaten. The coasts of the temperate and tropical zones are their favourite 

 resorts, but some kinds are found in brackish waters, while a few enter 

 rivers. They may be divided into several sub-families, of which the 

 CanthariiuB are typified by the British species of Cantharus, locally known by 

 the name of old wife, but more generally as the black sea-bream. In this 

 sub - family, to which also pertain the Mediterranean Scathanis, and the 

 Oriental Tropterodon and Crenidens, there are no teeth on the vomers, but 

 the front of the jaws carries trenchant incisors, which in some cases are 

 lobed. On the other hand, in the Haplodactylinw, there are teeth on the 

 vomers, and flat, generally triouspidate teeth in the jaws, the single genus 

 Haplodactyhis being the one with simple lower pectoral rays. Sargus, of 



which there are about a score of 



Fig. 6.— CoMMOK Sargus. 



species from the Atlantic, Mediter- 

 ranean, and Oriental seas, repre- 

 sents by itself a third sub-family 

 {Sargince), characterised by the 

 presence of a single series of 

 incisors in the front of the jaws, 

 and of several rows of grinding 

 teeth, adapted for crushing, on the 

 sides. AYhereas Haplodactyhis sub- 

 sists on a vegetable diet, the sargi 

 lives by grinding up molluscs and 

 crustaceans. Another sub-family 

 {Pagrinm) of shell-crushers is well known in the form of the gilt-heads 

 (Ghrysophrys), which take their name from the gold spots on the forehead. 

 In this sub-family there are also grinding teeth in the sides of the jaws, but 

 the front teeth are conical. Other genera of this group are Lethrimis, 

 Sphmrudon, Pucjellus, and Fagms. 



Still continuing the almost endless series of the Perciformes, we now come 

 to a small and uniniportant family including only the genus Hoplognathus, 

 species of which have been discovered on the coasts of Japan, 

 Family Australia, and Peru. The most essential feature of the 



Soplognathidce. group is the sharp cutting edges of the jaws, to which 

 such teeth as are present are closely adherent, and 

 thereby render the margin slightly serrated. The first dorsal fin, al- 

 though low, has strong spines, and is separated only by a very short 

 interval from the taller soft dorsal, the latter being very similar to the 

 anal, above which it is situated. The three spines of the anal are very low. 

 More important are the genera constituting the family Ciirhitidcn, these 



