664 TELEOSTEI chap. 



Fam. 21. Haplodactylidae. — No subocular shelf; entoptery- 

 goid present ; palate usually toothless. Vertebrae with trans- 

 verse processes from the third or fourth ; all the ribs attached to 

 the transverse processes v^hen these are present ; anterior epi- 

 pleurals strong. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes 

 free from the isthmus ; 5 or 6 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a 

 slit behind the fourth ; pseudobranohiae present. Lower pharyn- 

 geal bones separate. Soft portion of the dorsal fin much more 

 developed than the anal. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft 

 rays, inserted far back behind the pectorals, the lower rays of 

 whicli are simple and more or less thickened. 



This family embraces the genera Hcqdodactylus, GhModactylus, 

 Chironemus, and Tim-epterius, with some 3 species from the seas of 

 the Southern Hemisphere and Japan. They feed chiefly on crusta- 

 ceans, molluscs, and other invertebrates living among sea-weed. 



Fam. 22. Pristipomatidae. — No subocular shelf; entoptery- 

 goid present ; palate toothless. Vertebrae with transverse pro- 

 cesses from the third ; all the ribs attached to the transverse 

 processes. Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes free from 

 isthmus ; 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a slit behind 

 the fourth ; pseudobranohiae present. Lower pharyngeal bones 

 separate. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. 



Pristipoma, Hnemidon, Diagramma, and Pentapus, distributed 

 over all the tropical and subtropical seas, a few entering fresh 

 waters. About 1-30 species are known. 



Fam. 23. Sparidae. — Second suborbital with an internal 

 lamina supporting the globe of the eye ; entopterygoid present ; 

 palate usually toothless ; teeth often either cutting in front, or 

 molar-like on the sides. Vertebrae with transverse processes 

 from the second or third ; all the ribs attached to the transverse 

 processes. Two nostrils on each side. Gill -membranes free from 

 isthmus ; 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays ; gills 4, a slit behind 

 the fourth ; pseudobranchiae present. Lower pharyngeal bones 

 separate. Soft portion of dorsal fin not much more developed 

 than the anal. Ventral fins with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. 



The Sea-Breams embrace some 200 species, distributed over 

 the coasts of nearly the whole world. Some are herbivorous, but 

 the majority are carnivorous. • 



Principal genera : Scolopsis, Dentex, Synagris, Caesio, Maena, 

 OUata, Melambaphes, ■ Girella, Doydixodon, - Cantharus, Box, 



