SYNOPSIS OF THE ARRANGEMENT OF FISHES. 1^9 



Centropristis. Broadly fusiform ; caudal large, doubly 



lunate. 

 Priacanthus. Mouth large, vertical % lower jaw longest ; 



ventral large. 



4. Sub-family HoLOCENTRiN-a;. — Scales hard, ciliated ; seve- 



ral large spines generally placed on the head or gill-covers. 



AxTHiAS. Caudal fin large, lunate ; head obtuse ; mouth 

 sub-vertical. 



HoLOCENTRUM. Scales large, crenated or serrated, and imbri- 

 cate. 



HolocentruTn. Very large spines on the gill covers ; caudal forked. 

 Corniger. Sub-orbital spines very large ; caudal truncate. 

 Myn'pristis. Mouth sub- vertical ; spines of the head small. 

 Hoplostethus. Scales small ; head very large, with sunken partitions. 



Trachichthys. Body covered with large rough plates. 



Trachichthys. Lateral line and belly carinated. 



Monocentrus. Anal and dorsal spines very thick ; mouth small. 



OsiosoMA. Body covered with conic tubercles ; belly pro- 

 minent. 

 Bertx. Dorsal fin single, short; the scales re'mlar and smooth. 



5. Sub-family Datnin.^. — Teeth small, close, and even ; 



dorsal single ; pectorals pointed.* 



Therapox. Strong spines on the operculum. 



Datnia. Base of the hinder fins generally with a scaly sheath. 



Pomotis. Body broad ; a membraneous flap on the opercule 

 Datnia. Dorsal and anal spines remarkably strong. 

 Pelates. No scales on the fins ; anal spines moderate. 

 Eelotes. Muzzle obtuse ; mouth small ; teeth trilobate, 



CiRRHiTES. Pectorals with the lower rays thick, simple, and 

 nearly firee. 



Centrarchus. Mouth sub- vertical, large; anal spines nu- 

 merous. 



DuLES. Dorsal fins almost cleft into two; eyes very large ; 

 caudal forked ; general external aspect of Am- 

 bassis. 



Affinities uncertain; Pectoral and Anal Fins pointed; Caudal 



lunate or forked. 



Diacope. Preopercule crenated, sharply emarginate ; opercule 



with a tubercule. 

 Mesoprion. Preopercule crenated, and simply lobed. 



* Except in Cirrhites, where they are digitated. 



