ACANTIIOPTERYGII 



6S7 



being possessed of an open duct to the air-bladder. About twelve 

 species are known, referable to four genera : Femj}heris, ruraiwia- 

 cantlius, Xeopempheris, from the Indian, Pacific, and tropical 

 Atlantic Oceans, a.nd the deep-sea Bathydupea, from the Indian 

 and Caribbean Seas, at depths of 145 to 419 fathoms. 



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FiQ. 402. — Pempheris muelleri. (After Jordan and Evermaun.) 



Fam. 4. Centrarchidae. — No subocular lamina of the sub- 

 orbitals, or subocular shelf; entopterygoid present; palate toothed; 

 teeth conical. Praecaudal vertebrae with transverse processes 

 from the third or fourth to the last ; ribs mostly sessile, behind 

 the transverse processes. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-mem- 

 branes free from isthmus ; 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, 

 a slit behind the fourth ; pseudobranchiae more or less developed, 

 often rudimentary or absent. Lower pharyngeal bones separate. 

 Soft portion of dorsal fin not more developed than the anal. 

 Carnivorous freshwater fishes, some entering brackish water. 

 Many are known to build nests. Mostly inhabitants of ISTorth 

 America, the best known being the Sun-Fishes (Lepomis), and 

 Black Bass (Micropterus), several species of which have recently 

 been introduced into continental Europe. Principal genera : 

 Pomoxys, Gentrarchus, Ambloplites, Ghaenohryttus, Microp)terus, 

 Lepomis, Massoma, KuMia. Thirty-two species are known. 



Fam. 5. Cyphosidae. — Plerbivorous fishes, agreeing in their 

 essential osteological characters with the preceding, differing in 

 the incisor-like outer teeth and densely-scaled fins. Some 14 

 species are known,from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, referable to 4 

 genera : Gyphosus (Fimelepterus), Hermosilla, Sectator, Medialuna. 



VOL. VII 2 u 



