THE SEA-BASS 



Faiuilv XLl^III. Scrrauida^ 



Body oblong, more or less compressed, covered with adherent 

 scales of moderate or small size, which are usually but not always 

 ctenoid; premaxillaries protractile; teeth all conical or pointed, in 

 bands, present on jaws, vomer, and palatines; pseudobranchias large; 

 gill-membranes separate, free from the isthmus; cheeks and opercles 

 always scaly; preopercle usually serrate; opercle usually ending in i 

 or 2 tlat spines; nostrils double; lateral line single, not extending on 

 the caudal fin ; air-bladder present, usually small and adherent to the 

 walls of the abdomen. 



This is one of the largest as well as one of the most important 

 families of fishes. It contains about 7s genera and over 400 species, 

 all carnivorous Ushes, mostly marine, and found in all warm and tem- 

 perate seas. Several genera are found in fresh water. In our waters 

 are found 2q genera and about 100 species, nearly all of which are more 

 or less valued as food. Only a few, however, are sufficiently abundant 

 or of sufficient size to justify detailed descriptions in this work. 



a. Dorsal fins 2, sometimes slightly joined. 



b. Dorsal fins well separated, the spines rather weak; anal III, 12, the 



spines graduated; lower jaw projecting; base of tongue with 

 teeth Roccus, 372 



bb. Dorsal fins joined, the spines strong; anal 111, q, the spines not 

 graduated; jaws subequal; no teeth on base of tongue. 



Moroiie, 376 



aa. Dorsal fin single, sometimes deeply divided. 



c. Maxillary with a distinct supplemental bone. 



d. Inner teeth of jaws not depressible or hinged. 



('. Soft dorsal longer than spinous pait; vertebrae 10+14 = 24. 



/. Dorsal spines 9 ; caudal lunate Liopropoiim. 



ff. Dorsal spines 6; caudal truncate Cbonstistiiiiu. 



ee. Soft dorsal shorter than spinous part; vertebr;ie 2=, to 30. 

 g. Head not armed with spinigerous ridges; dorsal fin deeply notched. 



Stcrcolcpis, 377 

 gg. Head armed with rough spinigerous crests; dorsal fin low and 



continuous Polvprwn. 



dd. Inner teeth of jaws depressible or hinged. 



//. l^ectoral Linsymmetrical, its upper ravs longest. .GoiiioplCitnis, 



lih. Pectoral symmetrical, rounded, its middle rays longest. 



37" 



