20) 
placed far forward represents the proper thoracic ribs 
of fishes, but have no direct connexion with the spine. 
There are other rib-like bones behind. These are 
abdominal appendages very numerous in some fishes, 
such as the herrings; and very few, —and those few 
conveniently large, in others such as the perches and — 
labruses. They are wanting in several of the os- 
seous tribes, such as the diodons, and tetraodons, and 
are altogether non-existent in the cartilaginous fishes. ~ 
It is from the fact that so many of our fishes belong 
to the percoid and labroid families, that we are so 
seldom troubled with what are called by the cook 
bony fishes. We suffer verv little annoyance from 
bones in our fish-dishes. 
One of the finest of the labroid fishes is the hog- 
fish, both for its flesh, thick, white and luscious, se- 
parating in large strata and its exemption from small 
abdominal bones. I shall describe it, as it is one of 
the commonest, and one of the best fishes, taken in 
Port Royal, either by the fish-pot, or the line, the 
only source for supplying the market in the deep 
waters there. | 
The lachnolaimus suillus, has the general charac- 
ters of a true labrus. ‘The villous membrane that 
covers part of the pharyngeals, and palate, gives it 
its scientific name, woolly-throat. “C'est de cette par- 
ticularité que nons avons derivé leur nom generique 
lachnoleme, de lachne (lanugo) et de daimos, (guttur ;) 
i] signifie gorge laineuse, gorge veloute,” observes 
Cuvier. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, tome. Kid, 
liy. xvi. ch. Vi.) : 
