SPINY-FINNED GROUP. 
35 - 
both of which are remarkable for the extraordinary development of the appendages ' 
mentioned above, some of these occurring on the fins, and others on the head and lower 
lip. The representative of the second genus is very common at Madras. It may be 
added that this family includes the smallest members of the suborder, which belong to 
the genus Micropus —a name probably belonging to the swifts. These fish scarcely 
exceed an inch and a half in length, and frequent the coral-reefs of the Pacific. 
Of the three remaining and comparatively unimportant families, 
AUied Families. inclu( q e( | in ^he perch-like section of the spiny-finned fishes, it is 
only possible to make very brief mention. The first of these, the Nandidce, 
differs from all the foregoing by the incompleteness or absence of the lateral 
line; the dentition, although feebly developed, being more or less complete, and 
the preopercular bone having no connection with the orbit. The oblong and oval 
body is scaled; the number of spines in the dorsal fin is nearly equal to that of 
bleekek’s plesiops (| uat. size). 
the rays; the three-spined anal has its soft portion similar to the soft dorsal; and 
the thoracic pelvic fins have one spine and four or five rays. The small Oriental 
fresh-water fishes known as Nandus, Badis, etc., constitute a group of the family 
characterised by the presence of five rays in the pelvic fins, and the absence of 
false gills. They are common in all parts of India, some preferring ditches and 
inundated rice-fields, while others frequent clear streams. All are carnivorous, and 
the largest does not exceed 7 inches in length. The second group, as represented 
by Plesiops from the Indo-Pacific coral-reefs, and Trachinops from the Australian 
seas, although also including only small forms, are, on the other hand, marine; and 
are characterised by having only four rays to the pelvic fins, and by the presence 
of false gills. In Plesiops the lower rays of the pelvic fins are elongated and split 
at the ends; the soft dorsal and anal fins being likewise of considerable length. 
The figured species (P. bleekeri), which attains a length of 10 inches, is from the 
coral-islands of the South-West Pacific; it has the lateral line broken. 
Poiycentrus The seconc ^ family ( Polycentridce ) is represented only by the 
genera Poiycentrus and Monocirrhus, from the rivers on the Atlantic 
