54 
SCT^TNTA. 
This genus differs from Umbrina in Laving the jaws equal, and 
the lower jaw without a barb. Spines of the anal fin weak. 
It may seem unnecessary to divide these fishes, so very like each 
other, into separate genera, especially on grounds which appear to be 
so slight and indistinct. But it should be considered that in the 
warmer portions of the ocean, the species in both of them, as well 
as of other genera of this family of which no examples have been 
known on onr coasts, are numerous, and that therefore it suits the 
convenience of naturalists to have them divided into acknowledged 
groups, although the characters on which such a division is founded 
would under other circumstances be deemed insuffioient. 
SCI^NA. 
SHADE FISH. MAIGRB. 
SdcBna umbra, 
Sdene umbre, 
SdcBua aquila, 
it << 
(( if 
M it 
XjIuNvEtis. Cuvieu; Animal Kingdom, but 
S. aquila in his History of Fishes. 
LiCKPEDE. RiSSO. 
Fleming; British Animals, p, 213. 
Jenyns; Manual, p. 352. 
Yarkell; British Fishes, vol. i, p. 104. 
Gunthee; Oat. Br. M., vol. ii, p. 291. 
In our account of the Umbrina we have hinted at the 
confusion which exists, especially in the writings of the more 
modern naturalists with regard to that fish in connection with 
the Sciama, as well as in reference to others nearly related, 
or to themselves in different stages of their growth. There can 
be little doubt that one source of this confusion is to be found in 
the similarity of the names applied to these fishes, for although 
Umbra and Sciiena have a difference of sound, they possess 
a similarity of meaning; and when a distinction of meaning 
is applied to them, the difference has been made to apply to 
the stages of their age and growth, rather than to the natural 
