NATURAL HISTORY. 
136 
[n. zool. gal. 
jaws, and those which have imperfect jaws, or the bones of the upper 
jaw replaced by the palatines. 
The typical fishes which have distinct, separate, and well formed jaw 
bones, are divided into two sections, according to the structure of the 
ray of the fins, into the spinous and soft-rayed fishes. In the former, or 
Acanthopterygians , the front part of the dorsal and anal, and the first 
ray of the ventral fins are hard and spinous, while in the latter, called 
Malacopteiygians , all the rays of the fins are soft, articulated, and usually 
divided into branches at the end, except the first ray of the dorsal fin. 
The Acanthopterygian Fishes, or those which have spinous 
unjointed rays to the dorsal fins, are divided into several families by the 
size of the scales, the structure of the rays of the pectoral fin and the 
opercular bones, and the position of the teeth. Most have large well 
formed ovate imbricate scales. 
Some of these have the lower rays of the pectoral fins not branched, 
and sometimes entirely or partly free and exserted. 
Some of these have the bones under the orbits enlarged and articu¬ 
lated to the preoperculum, so as to protect the sides of the face. 
The family of Gurnards (Triglid^s) have two dorsal fins, and a 
square shaped head. Some have three or five free rays under the pec¬ 
torals, as Trigla , Prionotes, Peristedion. The Dactylopteres have very 
long rays under the pectoral, united together by a w 7 eb, which enables 
the fish to support themselves in the air, and are hence called Flying 
Gurnards. 
The family of Bull Heads ( CoTTiM:)are very like the former, but the 
head is round, and the lower rays of the pectoral are not separated from 
the rest; the ventrals are under the pectorals, and two distinct dorsals, as 
Coitus , Hemitripteres and Aspidophorus. The Platycephali are dis¬ 
tinguished from the former by the ventral fins being in front of the 
pectorals. 
The family of Hog Fish ( Scorp^enidh:) have oval compressed heads, 
which are often armed with spines, and only a single dorsal fin. The 
rays of the pectoral fin are all united, and the ventral under the pectorals. 
Some have velvet-like teeth in the jaws, vomer, and palate, as Hemile - 
pidotes , Blepsias , Apistes, Scorpcena , Sebastes ; others have teeth in 
the jaws and front of the vomer, but none in the palate, as Pterois , Pe - 
lors ; others have teeth only in the jaw 7 s, as Synanceus, Agriopus, 
Hophstethes. 
The family of Paradise Fish ( Polynemhle) have the simple cheeks 
and the opercular bones of the Perch; the lower rays of the pectoral fin 
are exserted and free, and the ventral fins behind the pectoral ones; 
their teeth are velvet-like. 
The Cirrhitedhc have the simple cheeks and teeth and bones of 
the preoperculum of the Perch, their ventrals are under the pectorals and 
one dorsal. The Cirrhites have teeth on the palate, and canines among 
the smaller teeth. The Cheilodactylus have no teeth on the palate. 
The remainder of these fishes have the lower ray of the pectoral fins 
branched like the others. 
The family of Perches (Percim) have the bone of the operculum 
edged with spines or small teeth; they do not cover the cheek. They 
have teeth on the vomer and palate. They are divided into several groups. 
