Salmoperce and Other Transitional Groups 249 
post temporal has been independently derived. The anterior 
vertebre in Zeus, as in Chetodon, are closely crowded together. 
In the Zeide the spinous dorsal is well developed, the body 
naked or with very thin scales, and provided with bony warts 
at least around the bases of dorsal and anal fins. The species 
are mostly of small size, silvery in color, living in moderate 
depths in warm seas. The best-known genus is Zeus, which is 
a group of shore-fishes of the waters of Asia and Europe. The 
common John Dory (called in Germany Harings-Konig, or 
king of the herrings), Zeus faber, abounds in shallow bays on 
the coasts of Europe. It reaches a length of nearly a foot, 
and is a striking feature of the markets of southern Europe. 
The dorsal spines are high, the mouth large, and on the sides 
is a black ring, said by some to be the mark of the thumb of 
St. Peter, who is reported to have taken a coin from the mouth 
of this species. A black spot on several other species is asso- 
ciated with the same legend. 
On the coasts of Japan abounds the Matao, or target-fish 
(Zeus japonicus), very similar to the European species and 
like it in form and color. Zenopsis nebulosa and Zen ttea also 
occur on the coasts of Japan. The remaining Zeide (Cyttus, 
Zenopsis, Zenion, etc.) are all rare species occasionally dredged 
especially in the Australian region. Zeus priscus is recorded 
from the Tertiary, and Cyttoides glaronensis from the upper 
Eocene of Glavus. 
Grammicolepide.—The Grammicolepide, represented by a 
single species, Grammicolepis brachiusculus, rarely taken off the 
coast of Cuba, is related to the Zezde. It has rough, ridged, 
parchment-like scales deeper than long. The ventrals are 
thoracic, with the rays in increased number, as in Zeus and 
Beryx, with each of which it suggests affinity. 
