FAMILIES OF THE MACROLEPTES. 17 



crowded teeth ; but without any canines, or larger teeth 

 on the sides. The leading divisions or genera of this 

 group appear to be the following. The most typical^ which 

 is that of Perca, has all the characters, strictly so termed, 

 which we have just detailed ; with only such slight 

 variations in the sub-genera, as serve to indicate the 

 primary types of the class which they are intended to 

 represent : thus in Lates C. the tail or caudal fin is rounded, 

 although in every other respect it is a true Perca. In 

 Diplopteron the body is so broad, and the head so high, 

 that it might be mistaken for a chgetodon: the pectoral 

 and caudal fins are roimded ; but the ventral is lung and 

 pointed. This sub-genus has an evident relation to 

 Pentaceros, in the next sub-family. In Lucioperca, as 

 the name implies, we see a perch assuming the aspect of 

 a pike ; so that, even in the range of a single genus, such 

 strong resemblances of analogy force them.selves on cur 

 attention, that we hesitate not to believe their real 

 import. 



( 1 5.) The genus Enoplnsvs foUows that of Perca. It 

 is perhaps one of the most extraordinary in the whole 

 of this family, and is at present represented only by a 

 single species of the Australian seas, first made known 

 by White * : it may be questioned, however, whether 

 that described and figured by Cuvier is not, in reality, 

 a different species. All writers before Cuvier had 

 placed it with the chgetodons, which it exactly resembles 

 in its broad and short body, small mouth, and delicate 

 teeth ; yet the fins are naked, the cheek bones spined, 

 and it possesses all the other characters of the true 

 perches. Now here is as perfect an instance of repre- 

 sentation as can possibly be exhibited ; — an instance, in 

 fact, which will come home to the comprehension of 

 every one who compares its figure with that of a true 

 chgetodon : such facts as these (and they start before us 

 at every step of our progress) carry immediate convic- 

 tion to every unprejudiced mind. 



* Voyage to New South Wales, pi. S9. f. 1. Chsetodon armatus Shaw 

 VOT., TI. " C 



