220 
TPIE SPAEOID FAMILY, OR SEA BREAMS. 
These fiskes are compressed in the iorm and proportions 
of their body and cheeks, with a tendency to an oval in the 
outline; the checks and body firmly clothed with scales, but 
not having them extended over the fins. Anterior portion of 
the dorsal fin with spinous rays, the hinder portion having 
soft and branched rays. The jaws usually or nearly equal, 
but the teeth subject to much variety; and as the species are 
numerous, a large part of which inhabit warmer climates 
than our own, naturalists have found it necessary to divide 
them into several sections or genera, which is most conveniently 
done according to the form and arrangement of their teeth. 
It is the consequence of this that there exists a near affinity 
between these several genera, and that, indeed, it often haiipens 
there is less difference in the characters of some of the 
genera than is found between the species in other departments 
of nature. 
As is the case with other fishes which come to us from 
warmer or brighter seas, either as periodical or wandering 
visitors, they are subject to change of colour, and remarkably 
so when in their highest condition, as compared witli their 
emaciated or lower state. And as it is not always convenient 
to destroy a specimen, which must often be done if we wisli 
to examine the full course of the teeth, it need not siirjuisc 
us if it happen that the rarer species have not been always 
clearly recognised; and conseiiucntly that they have not been 
in every case referred to the proper synonymes, as designated by 
other observers. Such mistakes have been laid 'o the rdiarge 
of sonic of our most careful authors; and it is in orilcr that 
1 may keep clear of the mrfortunc of increasing such errors, 
that, in describing the specie"- which have been recorded as 
occurring in Britain, my references to others, and especially to 
foreign writers, will be less frequent than usual, or as might 
