66 



SPAEIDiE. 



"Body compressed and oblong, covered with 

 scales, the serrature of which is exceedingly minute, 

 and sometimes wanting. Tail not armed. Lateral 

 line continuous, not continued on the caudal fin. 

 Mouth in front of the snout, with lateral cleft. 

 Eye lateral, of moderate size. Five, six or seven 

 branchiostegals. Either trenchant teeth in front 

 of the jaws, or lateral series of molar teeth ; gene- 

 rally no teeth on the palate. One dorsal fin, formed 

 by a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal 

 development ; anal with three spines ; the lower 

 rays of the pectorals generally branched, in one 

 group simple ; ventrals thoracic, with one spine and 

 five rays. The bones of the head with a rudimen- 

 tary muciferous system. Air-bladder present, often 

 bifid posteriorly. Pseudobranchise well developed. 



" Herbi- and carnivorous fishes, inhabiting the 

 seas of the temperate and tropical regions ; a few 

 entering rivers." 



MELANICHTHYS. 



Temminck and Schlegel formed this genus, in their " Fauna 

 Japonica," on a fish which had been described by Gray, under 

 the name of Girella ; but this latter had been used by Cuvier as 

 the French name for Julis, and, for all it has been adopted by 

 Dr. G-unther, I thought it was better to adopt the other to*avoid 

 the confusion that might otherwise result. The Australian sorts 

 were first noticed by Eichardson, who placed them with 

 Crenidens. 



The pr?eopercu]um is covered with scales, but the operculum 

 is without any, except at its upper angle. 



