About forty species are known, all from the sea. They are extremely common between the tropics, some of the species extending into the neighbouring sub-tropical parts. They do not attain a large size, and generally have a plain coloration. Conodon is an allied genus.

Marine; sixteen species are known from the coasts of Tropical America; they are of rather small size. The species figured occurs on both sides of Central America. Hapalogenys is an allied genus.

Forty species are known, which, with very few exceptions, belong to the tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific. Some attain to a size not very common among Sea-Perches, viz. to a length of from three to four feet. Many are agreeably coloured with black bands or spots. All appear to be esteemed as food. Hyperoglyphe from Australia is allied to this genus.

A remarkable fish (L. auctorum) on account of its extraordinary range. Common in many localities, scarcer in others, it occurs in the East Indies, and on all the Atlantic coasts of tropical and temperate America. Döderlein found it on the coast of Sicily in 1875. It lives in salt and brackish water, and is known to attain to a length of two feet.

Marine. Four species are known from Japan and South Australia. The species figured attains to a length of 20 inches, and is esteemed as food. It is known at Melbourne by the names of “Boar Fish” or “Bastard Dorey.”

More than thirty species are known of this genus, which bear so close a resemblance to one another that their distinction is rather difficult. They live in the seas between the Tropics, and some, perhaps all, of the species enter fresh water. Very rarely they exceed a length of ten inches; nearly all have a plain silvery coloration. The coalescence of their lower pharyngeals renders their systematic position rather uncertain, and, indeed, some Ichthyologists have referred them to the Pharyngognaths.

Marine, and of small size. Twenty-five species are known from the tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific. Heterognathodon is an allied genus, but without the infraorbital spine.

Marine Fishes, rather locally distributed in the Mediterranean, on the south coast of Africa, in the Red Sea, East Indian Archipelago, and on the coasts of China and Japan. About fourteen species are known, some of which attain a weight of 30 lbs. and more. They form a not unimportant article of food where they are found in any number, as on the Cape of Good Hope. The species found in the Mediterranean (D. vulgaris) wanders sometimes to the south coast of England, and is one of the larger species. The coloration of these fishes is rather uniform, silvery, or pink, or greenish. Symphorus is an allied genus from the Indo-Pacific.

Marine fishes of small size; about twenty species are known from the tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific. Pentapus, Chætopterus, and Aphareus are allied genera from the same area.

Small fishes from the Mediterranean, known to the ancients; valueless as food. Three species.

Small fishes from the Mediterranean. Six species.

Small fishes from the Indo-Pacific. Twelve species.

Small fishes from various tropical and temperate seas. Four species: the species figured occurs, but is not common, on the coasts of Western Austria, Tasmania, and New Zealand.

To this genus belong two fishes well known on account of the excellent flavour of their flesh. The first (O. macquariensis) is called by the colonists “Murray-Cod,” being plentiful in the Murray River and other rivers of South Australia. It attains to a length of more than three feet, and to a weight of nearly 100 lbs. The second (O. gigas) is found in the sea, on the coast of New Zealand, and called by the Maoris and colonists “Hapuku.” Its average weight is about 45 lbs., but occasionally large specimens of more than a hundredweight are caught. At certain localities it is so plentiful that it may form an important article of trade. Dr. Hector, who has had opportunity of examining it in a fresh state, has pointed out anatomical differences from the Murray-Cod, from which it appears that it would be better placed in a distinct genus.

One species, from the fresh waters of the United States (G. salmonoides), attains to a length of more than two feet. It is known by the name of “Growler,” and eaten.

Three species are known, from the coasts of Southern Australia and New Zealand. They are named by the colonists Salmon or Trout, from their elegant form and lively habits, and from the sport they afford to the angler. Their usual size is from 1 to 3 lbs., but specimens of double that weight are taken. The smaller specimens are the more delicate and better flavoured. When not fresh, they are liable to assume poisonous properties; and cases of poisoning are not unfrequently caused by them.

The “Black Bass” of Lake Huron (Huro nigricans).

This genus comprises the smallest of all Percoids, some of the species not much exceeding one inch in length. They are most abundant on the coasts of the tropical Indo-Pacific, and in the fresh waters belonging to that area. The species are numerous (some thirty having been described), and very difficult to distinguish. Their coloration is very plain, a silvery hue prevailing over the whole fish.

Although of similarly small size, the fishes of this genus represent a more highly developed form of the Percoid type than Ambassis. Their distribution coincides very much with that of Ambassis, but they are chiefly marine, comparatively few of the species entering fresh water. They belong to the kind of fishes which, from their habit, are termed “Coral Fishes,” being found in greatest abundance on, or in the neighbourhood of, coral reefs, in company with Chætodonts, Pomacentridæ, and others. Their colours also are ornamental and highly diversified, as is generally the case in coral fishes, the majority of the species showing transverse or longitudinal bands or large spots, and numerous other smaller markings which, in the dead fish, soon disappear. Nearly one hundred species have been described, of which a few only occur in the Atlantic, one extending northwards into the Mediterranean.

Chilodipterus, Acropoma, and Scombrops are allied genera, but with canine teeth in one or both jaws.

One species only is known, P. telescopium, which grows to a length of nearly two feet. It is not uncommon in the Mediterranean and neighbouring parts of the Atlantic, but only occasionally caught, as it lives habitually at a greater depth than any other Percoid as far as is known at present, probably at depths from 80 to 200 fathoms; a habit sufficiently indicated by its exceedingly large eye.

Priacanthus.—Body short, compressed, covered with small rough scales, which extend also over the short snout. Lower jaw and chin prominent. Eye large. All the teeth villiform, without canines; teeth on the vomer and palatine bones. One dorsal fin with ten spines, anal with three. Præoperculum serrated, with a more or less prominent, flat, triangular spine at the angle.

A very natural genus, easily recognised, and without direct relation to the other Percoid genera. The species, of which seventeen are known, are spread over nearly all the tropical seas, and belong to the more common fishes. They scarcely exceed a length of twelve inches, and are very uniformly coloured, red, pink, and silvery prevailing.

The following three genera form a group by themselves, which, however, is defined rather by its geographical limits and similarity of general appearance than by distinctive anatomical characters. The species are abundant in the fresh waters of the United States, and well known by the name of “Sun Fishes.” They rarely exceed a length of six inches, and are not used as food. The number of species is uncertain.

A North American Freshwater genus, Aphredoderus, occupies a perfectly isolated position in the system, and is evidently the type of a distinct family. It resembles the “Sun-fishes” of the same country with regard to the structure of the vertical fins, but has the vent situated in front of the ventrals, which are composed of more than five soft rays. The body is oblong, compressed, covered with ctenoid scales. The dorsal fin is single, and has three spines in front. Infraorbital and præoperculum with spinous teeth. Villiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer and palatine bones. A. sayanus from the southern streams and fresh waters of the Atlantic States.

To complete the list of Percoid genera, we have to mention the following:—Siniperca, Etelis, Niphon, Aprion, Apsilus, Pentaceros, Velifer, Datnioides, Percilia, Lanioperca.

Second Family—Squamipinnes.

Body compressed and elevated, covered with scales, either finely ctenoid or smooth. Lateral line continuous, not continued over the caudal fin. Mouth in front of the snout, generally small, with lateral cleft. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Six or seven branchiostegals. Teeth villiform or setiform, in bands, without canines or incisors. Dorsal fin consisting of a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal development; anal with three or four spines, similarly developed as the soft dorsal, both being many-rayed. The vertical fins more or less densely covered with small scales. The lower rays of the pectoral fin branched, not enlarged; ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five soft rays. Stomach coecal.

The typical forms of this family are readily recognised by the form of their body, and by a peculiarity from which they derive their name Squamipinnes; the soft, and frequently also the spinous part of their dorsal and anal fins are so thickly covered with scales that the boundary between fins and body is entirely obliterated. The majority are inhabitants of the tropical seas, and abound chiefly in the neighbourhood of coral-reefs. The beauty and singularity of distribution of the colours of some of the genera, as Chætodon, Heniochus, Holacanthus, is scarcely surpassed by any other group of fishes. They remain within small dimensions, and comparatively few are used as food. They are carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates. Only a few species enter brackish water.

Extinct representatives of this family are not scarce at Monte Bolca and in other tertiary formations. All, at least those admitting of definite determination, belong to existing genera, viz. Holacanthus, Pomacanthus, Ephippium, Scatophagus. Very singular is the occurrence of Toxotes in the Monte Bolca strata.

The following genera have no teeth on the palate:—

Seventy species are known from the tropical parts of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, nearly all being beautifully ornamented with bands or spots. Of the ornamental markings a dark or bicoloured band, passing through the eye and ascending towards the back, is very generally found in these fishes; it frequently occurs again in other marine Acanthopterygians, in which it is not rarely a sign of the immature condition of the individual. The Chætodonts are most numerous in the neighbourhood of the coral-reefs of the Indo-Pacific, the species figured (C. ephippium) being as common in the East Indian Archipelago as in Polynesia, like many others of its congeners.

Only four species are known, locally distributed in the tropical seas. Ch. rostratus, the oldest species known, is said to have the instinct of throwing a drop of water from its bill so as to light upon any insect resting on a leaf, and thus make it fall, that it may instantly dart upon it. This statement is erroneous, and probably rests upon the mistaken notion that the long bill is especially adapted for this manœuvre, which, indeed, is practised by another fish of this family (Toxotes). The long slender bill of Chelmo (which is a true saltwater fish) rather enables it to draw from holes and crevices animals which otherwise could not be reached by it.

Four species are known from the tropical Indo-Pacific. H. macrolepidotus is one of the most common fishes of that area; the species figured (H. varius) retains in a conspicuous manner horn-like protuberances on bones of the head, with which the young of all the species of this genus seem to be armed.

Forty species are known, which, in their geographical distribution accompany, and are quite analogous to, the Chætodonts. One of the most common and most beautiful is called “Emperor of Japan” by the Dutch, which name has been adopted by Bloch for its specific designation, Holacanthus imperator. Its body is blue, longitudinally traversed by about thirty yellow bands; the ocular band, and the side behind the head, are black, edged with yellow; the caudal fin is yellow. It is a large species of this genus, sometimes attaining a length of 15 inches, and as an article of food is one of the most esteemed of all the Indian species. With regard to beauty of colours it is surpassed by another allied species, H. diacanthus, which likewise ranges from the east coast of Africa to Polynesia.

The single species (P. paru) on which this genus is founded is one of the most common fishes of the West Indies, and offers one of the most remarkable instances of variation of colour within the limits of the same species: some specimens being ornamented with more or less distinct yellowish cross-bands, others with yellow crescent-shaped spots; in others black spots predominate.

Four species are known, from the Indian Ocean, of which S. argus is the most generally known, in fact, one of the most common Indian shore-fishes. It freely enters large rivers, and is said not to be particular in the selection of its food. The species figured (S. multifasciatus) represents S. argus on the coasts of Australia.

Two or three species are known from the warmer parts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The Atlantic species (E. faber) shows the remarkable peculiarity that in old specimens (12 and more inches long) the occipital crest, and sometimes some of the anterior neural and hæmal spines are enormously enlarged into a globular bony mass. This can hardly be regarded as a pathological change of the bone, as it has been found in all old specimens, without exception.

Drepane is allied to Ephippus, but has very long falciform pectoral fins. The single species D. punctata is common in the Indian Ocean and on the coasts of Australia. Hypsinotus, from Japan, appears to inhabit a greater depth than the other Squamipinnes.

Scorpis and Atypichthys are genera distinguished from the preceding by the presence of vomerine teeth. They belong to the coast-fauna of Australia, New Zealand, and Chili.

Two species are known from the East Indies, one (T. jaculator), which is the more common, ranging to the north coast of Australia. It has received its name from its habit of throwing a drop of water at an insect which it perceives close to the surface, in order to make it fall into it. The Malays, who call it “Ikan sumpit,” keep it in a bowl, in order to witness this singular habit, which it continues even in captivity.

Third Family—Mullidæ.

Body rather low and slightly compressed, covered with large thin scales, without or with an extremely fine serrature. Two long erectile barbels are suspended from the hyoid, and are received between the rami of the lower jaw and opercles. Lateral line continuous. Mouth in front of the snout, with the cleft lateral and rather short; teeth very feeble. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Two short dorsal fins remote from each other, the first with feeble spines; anal similar to the second dorsal. Ventrals with one spine and five rays. Pectorals short. Branchiostegals four; stomach siphonal.

The “Red Mullets” form a very natural family, which, on account of slight modifications of the dentition, has been divided into several sub-genera—Upeneoides, Upeneichthys, Mullus, Mulloides, and Upeneus. They are marine fishes, but many species enter brackish water to feed on the animalcules abounding in the flora of brack-water. About forty different species are known chiefly from tropical seas, the European species (M. barbatus, see p. 43, Fig. 7), extending far northwards into the temperate zone. None attain to a large size, specimens of from two to three lbs. being not common, but all are highly esteemed as food.

The most celebrated is the European species (of which there is one only, M. surmuletus being probably the female). The ancient Romans called it Mullus, the Greeks τριγλη. The Romans priced it above any other fish; they sought for large specimens far and wide, and paid ruinous prices for them.

Then, as nowadays, it was considered essential for the enjoyment of this delicacy that the fish should exhibit the red colour of its integuments. The Romans brought it, for that purpose, living into the banqueting room, and allowed it to die in the hands of the guests, the red colour appearing in all its brilliancy during the death struggle of the fish. The fishermen of our times attain the same object by scaling the fish immediately after its capture, thus causing a permanent contraction of the chromatophors containing the red pigment (see p. 183).

Fourth Family—Sparidæ.

Body compressed, oblong, covered with scales, the serrature of which is very minute, and sometimes altogether absent. Mouth in front of the snout, with the cleft lateral. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Either cutting teeth in front of the jaws, or molar teeth on the side; palate generally toothless. One dorsal fin, formed by a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal development. Anal fin with three spines. The lower rays of the pectoral fin are generally branched, but in one genus simple. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five rays.

The “Sea-breams” are recognised chiefly by their dentition, which is more specialised than in the preceding families, and by which the groups, into which this family has been divided, are characterised. They are inhabitants of the shores of all the tropical and temperate seas. Their coloration is very plain. They do not attain to a large size, but the majority are used as food.

The extinct forms found hitherto are rather numerous; the oldest come from the cretaceous formation of Mount Lebanon; some belong to living genera, as Sargus, Pagellus; of others from Eocene and Miocene formations no living representative is known—Sparnodus, Sargodon, Capitodus, Soricidens, Asima.

First Group—Cantharina.—More or less broad cutting, sometimes lobate, teeth in front of the jaws; no molars or vomerine teeth; the lower pectoral rays are branched. Partly herbivorous, partly carnivorous. The genera belonging to this group are:—Cantharus from the European and South African coasts, of which one species (C. lineatus), is common on the coasts of Great Britain, and locally known by the names “Old Wife,” “Black Sea-bream;” Box, Scatharus, and Oblata from the Mediterranean and neighbouring parts of the Atlantic; Crenidens and Tripterodon from the Indian Ocean; Pachymetopon, Dipterodon, and Gymnocrotaphus from the Cape of Good Hope; Girella and Tephræops from Chinese, Japanese, and Australian Seas; Doydixodon from the Galapagos Islands and the coasts of Peru.

Second Group—Haplodactylina.—In both jaws flat and generally tricuspid teeth; no molars; vomerine teeth. The lower pectoral rays simple, not branched. Vegetable feeders. Only one genus is known, Haplodactylus, from the temperate zone of the Southern Pacific.

Third Group—Sargina.—Jaws with a single series of incisors in front, and with several series of rounded molars on the side. One genus is known, Sargus, which comprises twenty species; several of them occur in the Mediterranean and the neighbouring parts of the Atlantic, and are popularly called “Sargo,” “Sar,” “Saragu:” names derived from the word Sargus, by which name these fishes were well known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. One of the largest species is the “Sheep’s-head” (Sargus ovis), from the coasts of the United States, which attains to a weight of 15 lbs., and is highly esteemed on account of the excellency of its flesh. Singularly enough, this genus occurs also on the east coast of Africa, one of these East-African species being identical with S. noct from the Mediterranean. These fishes evidently feed on hard-shelled animals, which they crush with their molar teeth.

Fourth Group—Pagrina.—Jaws with conical teeth in front and molar teeth on the sides. Feeding, as the preceding, on hard-shelled animals, like Mollusks and Crustaceans. This group is composed of several genera:—

More than twenty species are known, all of which, with one exception, occur in the tropical Indo-Pacific. The species, forming this exception, occurs, singularly enough, on the west coast of Africa, where more than one Indian genus reappears in isolated representative species. Some Lethrini attain to a length of three feet.

Sphærodon is closely allied to Lethrinus, but has scales on the cheek. One species from the Indo-Pacific.

Thirteen species are known, chiefly distributed in the warmer parts of the temperate zones, and more scantily represented between the tropics. Several species (P. vulgaris, P. auriga, P. bocagii) occur in the Mediterranean and the neighbouring parts of the Atlantic; one (P. argyrops) is well known on the coasts of the United States under the names of “Scup,” “Porgy,” or “Mishcup,” and one of the most important food fishes, growing to a length of 18 inches and a weight of 4 lbs.; another (P. unicolor) is one of the best-known sea-fishes of Southern Australia and New Zealand, where it is called “Snapper;” it is considered very good eating, like all the other species of this genus, and attains, like some of them, a length of more than 3 feet and a weight exceeding 20 lbs.

Seven species are known, the majority of which are European, as P. erythrinus, common in the Mediterranean, and not rare on the south coast of England, where it is generally termed “Becker;” P. centrodontus, the common “Sea-bream” of the English coasts, distinguished by a black spot on the origin of the lateral line; in the young, which are called “Chad” by Cornish and Devon fishermen, this spot is absent; P. owenii, the “Axillary or Spanish Sea-Bream,” likewise from the British coasts. Pagellus lithognathus, from the coasts of the Cape of Good Hope, attains to a length of four feet, and is one of the fishes which are dried for export and sale to whalers.

Some twenty species are known from tropical seas and the warmer parts of the temperate zones. Generally known is Ch. aurata, from the Mediterranean, occasionally found on the south coast of England, where it is named “Gilthead.” The French call it “Daurade,” no doubt from the Latin Aurata, a term applied to it by ancient authors. The Greeks named it Chrysophrys (i.e. golden eyebrow), in allusion to the brilliant spot of gold which it bears between its eyes. According to Columella, the Aurata was among the number of the fishes brought up by the Romans in their vivaria; and the inventor of those vivaria, one Sergius Orata, is supposed to have derived his surname from this fish. It is said to grow extremely fat in artificial ponds. Duhamel states that it stirs up the sand with the tail, so as to discover the shell-fish concealed in it. It is extremely fond of mussels, and its near presence is sometimes ascertained by the noise which it makes while breaking their shells with its teeth. Several species found on the Cape of Good Hope attain to as large a size as Pagellus lithognathus, and are preserved for sale like that species. Chrysophrys hasta is one of the most common species of the East Indian and Chinese coasts, and enters large rivers.

Fifth Group—Pimelepterina.—In both jaws a single anterior series of cutting teeth, implanted by a horizontal posterior process, behind which is a band of villiform teeth. Villiform teeth on the vomer, palatines and the tongue. Vertical fins densely covered with minute scales. Only one genus is known, Pimelepterus, with six species from tropical seas. These fishes are sometimes found at a great distance from the land.

Fifth Family—Hoplognathidæ.

Body compressed and elevated, covered with very small ctenoid scales. Lateral line continuous. The bones of the jaws have a sharp dentigerous edge, as in Scarus. The teeth, if at all conspicuous, being continuous with the bone, forming a more or less indistinct serrature; no teeth on the palate. The spinous portion of the dorsal fin is rather more developed than the soft; the spines strong; anal with three spines, similar to the soft dorsal. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five soft rays.

One genus only is known, Hoplognathus, with four species from Australian, Japanese, and Peruvian coasts.

Sixth Family—Cirrhitidæ.

Body oblong, compressed, covered with cycloid scales; lateral line continuous. Mouth in front of the snout, with lateral cleft. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Cheeks without a bony stay for the præoperculum. Generally six, sometimes five or three branchiostegals. Dentition more or less complete, composed of small pointed teeth, sometimes with the addition of canines. One dorsal fin, formed by a spinous and soft portion, of nearly equal development. Anal with three spines, generally less developed than the soft dorsal. The lower rays of the pectoral fins simple and generally enlarged; ventrals thoracic, but remote from the root of the pectorals, with one spine and five rays.

The fishes of this family may be readily recognised by their thickened, undivided lower pectoral rays, which in some are evidently auxiliary organs of locomotion, in others, probably, organs of touch. They differ from the following family, the Scorpænidæ, in lacking the bony connection between the infraorbital ring and the præoperculum. Two groups may be distinguished in this family, which, however, are connected by an intermediate genus (Chironemus). The first, distinguished by the presence of vomerine teeth, consists of Cirrhites and Chorinemus, small prettily coloured fishes. The former genus is peculiar to the Indo-Pacific, and consists of sixteen species; the second, with three species, seems to be confined to the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. The second group lacks the vomerine teeth, and comprises the following genera:—