66 
SPARID^. 
“Body compressed and oblong, covered with 
scales, the serrature of which is exceedingly minute, 
and sometimes wanting. Tail not armed. Lateral 
line continuous, not continued on the candal fin. 
Mouth in front of the snout, Avith lateral cleft. 
Eye lateral, of moderate size. Eive, six or seven 
hranchiostegals. Either trenchant teeth in front 
of the jaws, or lateral series of molar teeth; gene- 
rally no teeth on the palate. One dorsal fin, formed 
by a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal 
development ; anal Avith three spines ; the loAver 
rays of the pectorals generally branched, in one 
group simple ; ventrals thoracic, with one spine and 
five rays. The bones of the head with a rudimen- 
tary muciferous system. Air-bladder present, often 
bifid posteriorly. Pseudobranchiae well developed. 
“ Herbi- and carnivorous fishes, inhahiting the 
seas of the temperate and tropical regions ; a fcAV 
entering rivers.” 
MELANICHTHTS. 
Temminck and ScUegel formed this genus, in their “ Eauna 
.Taponica,” on a fish which had been described by Gray, under 
the name of Girella ; but this latter had been used by Cuvier as 
the Erench name for Julis, and, for all it has been adopted by 
Dr. Gunthep I thought it was better to adopt the other to avoid 
the confusion that might otherwise result. The Australian sorts 
were first noticed by Eichardson, who placed them with 
Creniclens. 
The priPoperculum is covered with scales, but the operculum 
is without any, except at its upper angle. 
