96 
ACANTHOPTERYGII. — SPARID^. 
1 
nation variations of structure, each possessed by 
a certain number of genera in common, by the 
selection of which such sub-division may be ef- 
fected. In treating of the Percadm^ we briefly 
enumerated the subordinate groups into which 
that immense Family is divided; we will now 
indicate those into which Cuvier has distributed 
the Sparidce. 
1. The Sparina have the jaws set with round 
flat teeth like paving-stones. Eighty species 
belong to this group, of which sixteen are Euro- 
pean, and flve are British, 
2. The Denticina have all the teeth conical 
and pointed, and the front ones hooked. This 
is the most important division, as regards num- 
ber, though not the most typical ; as it includes 
one hundred and twenty species, mostly tropical. 
Four only of these are European, of which one is 
marked as British, the Four-toothed Sparus, or 
Toothed Grilthead {Dentex vulgaris, Cuv.) It must, 
however, be reckoned among the very rarest of 
native animals, its claim to be so regarded rest- 
ing on the authority of a single specimen. It for- 
tunately happened that this rarity fell into the 
hands of Mr. Donovan, from whose History of 
British Fishes,” w^e extract the following interest- 
ing note of its powers, habits, and uses. 
A more voracious fish is scarcely known ; and 
when we consider its ferocious inclination, and 
the strength of its formidable canine teeth, we 
must be fully sensible of the great ability it 
possesses in attacking other fishes, even of su- 
perior size, with advantage. It is asserted, that 
when taken in the fishermen’s nets, it will seize 
upon the other fishes taken with it, and mangle 
