PEBCID^. — SERRANIN^. 201 



2. SuBFAM. SERRANIN^. 

 Dorsal fin single, sometimes emarginate ; branchial 

 membrane with seven rays * ; jaws with strong canines. 



Serranus Cuv. Body ovate, fusiform ; preopercule cre- 

 nated; operculum with one or two isolated prickles.; 

 dorsal fin single, slightly emarginate in the middle, 

 naked, and without scaly sheaths at the base. 



Serranus Cuv. Caudal fin truncate or lunated; head 

 rather pointed ; mouth large, o ening horizontally ; 

 lower jaw longest, pectoral ovate; teeth few, re- 

 curved, straggling, in two or more rows, those in the 

 lower jaw longest ; the vomer teeth smaller and 

 crowded ; body usually crossed by bands. Represent- 

 ing Perca. 



S. scriba. Cuv. pi. 28. cabrilla. Cuv. pi. 29. 



phasnistomus Sw. Riip, pi. 26. f. 2. 



Cromikptes Sw. Caudal fin rounded or oval; hinder 



part of the dorsal fin broader than the anterior; a 



strong canine tooth on each side of the lower jaw ; 



body usually covered with spots. Representing Lates. 



C. altivelis. Sw. Cuv. pi. 35. myriaster. Riip. (nee. 

 gigas, lb. pi. 33. Cuv.), i. pi. 27. f. 1. 



miniatus. Riip. i. pi. 26. fuscoguttatus. lb. f. 3. 



f. 3. hemistictos. lb. f. 3. 



Plectropoma Cuv. General structure of Serranus ; but 

 the body is shorter and broader, and the anal 

 spines very strong ; caudal fin forked or lunate ; the 

 spines on the horizontal or lower edge of the pre- 

 opercule are largest, and are directed forward ; body 

 banded. Representing Centropomus. 

 P. pueUa. Cuv. pi. 37.+ 



Cynichthys Sw. J (^fig. 42, c.) Body shorter and broader ; 



* This is Cuvier's character ; but it seems to be a variable one, for I find, 

 on reference to my Sicilian MSS., that in the first, or typical species, 

 S. scriba, I counted only six rays, while in S. cabrilla there were; seven. 



t P. leopardinus, Cuv. pi. 36., seems to connect this sub-genus with 

 Cromileptes. 



X This most beautiful fish is obviously the chironectiform type of the 

 present group. 



