-^^i PISCES. 



Sntsiia, of wliich there are seven subgenera. The general characters are,— the head inflated, and supported by 

 cavernous bones ; two dorsah'^, or one deeply notcbLd, the ^oft part much lunger than the spinous ; the anal short, 

 the pre-opereulum toothed, and the operculum divided into pohits at its extremity; seven arches in the gills. 

 They resemble the Perches, only they have no teeth iti the palate ; their \vhole head is scaly, their air-bladder 

 often curiously fringed, and the stony aifpendages in the ear larger than in most fislies. The folloi\ing are the 

 subgenera :— 



&'c/£e>m, or ;\Iai2:rcs, pro|ierly so called, which have the spines of the anal v,eak, and neither elongated canine 

 teeth nor ciiTi at t\n- ninuth. ( )ne species, .S'. umbra, inhabits the Mediterranean, and used to be highly esteemed, 

 but has latterly iK'conic rare. It ^^o\\:^ tn the length of six feet or more. Some other species of this subgenus 

 are found in the Sonthein and Indian Sens. 



OtolithiiK, has the anal spines weak, and nn cirri, some elongated or canine teetli, and two horns attached to the 

 air-bladder, and erected forwards. They are Indian and Ainericari tishes; one is known as the Stone Perch of 

 Pondicherry. Anci/lodon, resembles the former, but has a short muzzle, long canine teeth, and a pointed tail. 

 Corc/na, small and crowded teeth, with neither canines nor cirri; the second anal spine ratlier strong. (;ne, 

 species, C. nigrOy is abundant in the IMediterranean, and there are others in the Indian and American seas. 

 Jolnihis, resembles the last, but has the second anal spine weaker, and shorter than the&oft rays. They are found 

 in the seas of India, Tropical Africa, and AmcricLi, inid are esteemed as food, their flesh being white and easy of 

 digestion. Umbrhia, distinguished by a cirrus on the lower jaw. A remarkably beautiful fish, found plentifully 

 in the Mediterranean, and occasionally on the southern coasts of Britain. Its ground colour is golden, with bright 

 bands of steel blue ; and its flesh is excellent. It is not a very long fish, but is sometimes forty pounds in weight. 

 Pogonias, somewhat like the former, but with several cirri belnw the jaw. Some of tliem are sihery, and attain 

 the size of an Umbrina. This fish produces much niOJ-e sound than any of the otIiL-r Sci;i.niuti\ on wlm/b account 

 it is sometimes called the Drum-fish. 



Eques, has a long and compressed body, elevated at the shoulders, and tapering to the tail ; the teeth are small 

 and closely set ; the first dorsal is high, the second long and scaly ; and they all belong to the American seas. 



The Sci.Tnidre "^vith a single dorsal fin, are subdivided accordinc;; ro tlie nmnbcr of the gill-ravs. 

 Those which have seven, c<.)n*espond to some genera of the Sparid;f, and Lave the pre-n]ierculaiu a!\va\'s 

 notched. The following genera have seven gill-rays : — 



Hcemj/lon, has the muzzle lengthened, resembling that of a Hog ; the lower jaw compressed, opening very wide 

 and of a bright red. Hence they are called " Red-throats" in the West Indian Islands. Their teeth are small, and 

 closely set ; and their dorsal fin is slightly notched, having the soft part scaly. They inhabit the American seas. 



Pristipoma, have pores in the jaw, like the last species, hot the muzzle thicker, the mouth not so deeply cleft, 

 and their dorsal and anal fins without scales. The obtuse angle of the operculum is concealed by a membrane. 

 They are numerous, and inhabit the warm latitudes of botli oci.';nis. 



Digrommo, resemble the last-named, except that tljc ra\ ity nf tlir symphysis is wnntivjLS and there are two large 

 pores beneath each side. They are found in both oceans. TIh.i^c of the Atlantic have large scales, and those of 

 the Indian Ocean smaller, and a sliorter and thicker muzzle. 



The Scifenidae with a single dorsal, and less than seven gill-rays, admit of more snbdivision. Some 

 have the lateral line extending to the caudal fin, others have it interrupted. The following genera 

 possess the former character : — 



Lobotes, have the muzzle slmrt, the lower jaw ])roniiiient, tlie boily liii,di, and the posterior angle of the dorsal 

 and anal fins so elongated, as, with the rmirided caudal fin, to appear in tlirre lobes. Tliere are four groups of very 

 small points near the end of the jaw , They inlia bit both oceans. 



Cheilodactylis, have the body long, the mouth small, many spinous rays in the dorsjd, and tlie lower rays of the 

 pectorals simple, and produced beyond the membrane. 



Scolopshfes, have the second snborbital plate toothed, and terminated by a point directed backwards, crossing 

 another point of the third suborbital, directed the contrary w-ay. The body is oblong, mmiih little ..lift, teeth 

 velvety, scales large, and no pores in the jaws. They inhabit the Indian seas. 



Microptcres, have the body oblong, three spines on each side of the jaw, and the last rays of the soft part of the 

 dorsal separated from the others, and forming a small peculiar fin. They have the operculum without notches. 



The Scint'nida:'. with less than seven gill-rays, and the lateral line interru])ted, form several genera of 

 small oval tishes, generally finely coloured, and distinguished by the arniature of their beads. They 

 have a nearer relation to the genus Chietodon, and resemble some of the fishes with laliyriiuinc 

 brancliire. The following are the genera : — 



Amj'hifrin/i, with the pre-opcrculum and three operculum pieces dentelated, the K'-itter produced on a single row^ 

 of blunt teeth. Poinacentrc:, have the pre-operculum dentelated, the operculum without nrmature, and a single 

 row of trenchant teeth. Prcmtifi.-i, have one or two stout spines on the suborbital, and the pre-0|)eiculuni toutlied. 

 Dasci/Uux, resemble Pomacentres, except in having the teeth very smab, and thickly crowded. All the genera in- 

 habit the Indian seas. 



Glyphhodon, with the gill-lids entire, and a single row of trer.chant and generally notched teeth. They are 

 found in the Atlantic, Imt more abundantly in the Indian seas. 



lldianus, resemble the preceding genus in their operculum, but have the teeth small ami \-(dvety. 



