COLLECTION OF FISH. 44^ 



bull, but a very small mouth, incapable of ex- 

 tension. The only two species known are from 

 the Indian seas, and were brought home by Com- 

 merson. 



The second genus of this family (novacula, 

 Gift.,) are distinguished by the sharpness of their 

 forehead, which descends almost vertically to 

 the mouth. We have six species ; one of which 

 is from the Mediterranean, and the others 

 from the equatorial seas. Next comes the ge- 

 nus chromis, Cuv. We have seventeen species, 

 one of which, from the North American seas, 

 has been named spar us auritus, because its skin 

 is prolonged beyond the gills. The last genus 

 is that of the scarus. We have seven species 

 which inhabit the seas of hot climates. The 

 singular form of their snout and the brilliancy 

 of their colours has caused them to be called 

 parrot-fish. 



^he next family is that of the sparoidere, of 

 which we have about three hundred and fifty 

 species. M. Cuvierhas divided them into twenty- 

 five genera, which are characterized by the 

 form of the jaws, teeth, and operculum. We 

 have twenty-two species of the genus smaris, 

 Cuv., to which belong the smare sparus [spa- 

 ms smarts, Lin.) and the mendole sparus 

 [smaena, Lin.), which are found in the Medi- 



« 



