Seventeen species are known, chiefly from the temperate parts of the Southern Pacific, and also from the coasts of Japan and China. They belong to the most valuable food-fishes, as they grow to a considerable size (from five to twenty-five lbs.), and are easily caught in numbers. At the Cape of Good Hope they are very abundant, and preserved in large quantities for export.

Mendosoma from the coast of Chili, and Nemadactylus from Tasmania, are allied genera.

Two species only are known from Tasmania and New Zealand, which belong to the most important food-fishes of the Southern Hemisphere. Latris hecateia or the “Trumpeter,” ranges from sixty to thirty lbs. in weight, and is considered by the colonists the best flavoured of any of the fishes of South Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and consumed smoked as well as fresh. The second species, Latris ciliaris, is smaller, scarcely attaining a weight of twenty lbs., but more abundant; it is confined to the coast of New Zealand.

Seventh Family—Scorpænidæ.

Body oblong, more or less compressed, covered with ordinary scales, or naked. Cleft of the mouth lateral or subvertical. Dentition feeble, consisting of villiform teeth; and generally without canines. Some bones of the head armed, especially the angle of the præoperculum, its armature receiving additional support by a bony stay, connecting it with the infraorbital ring. The spinous portion of the dorsal fin equally or more developed than the soft and than the anal. Ventrals thoracic, generally with one spine and five soft rays, sometimes rudimentary.

This family consists of carnivorous marine fishes only; some resemble the Sea-Perches in form and habits, as Sebastes, Scorpæna, etc., whilst others live at the bottom of the sea, and possess in various degrees of development those skinny appendages resembling the fronds of seaweeds, by which they either attract other fishes, or by which they are enabled more effectually to hide themselves. Species provided with those appendages have generally a coloration resembling that of their surroundings, and varying with the change of locality. The habit of living on the bottom has also developed in many Scorpænoids separate pectoral rays, by means of which they move or feel. Some of the genera live at a considerable depth, but apparently not beyond 300 fathoms. Nearly all are distinguished by a powerful armature either of the head, or fin spines, or both; and in some the spines have been developed into poison organs.

The only fossil representative known at present is a species of Scorpæna from the Eocene of Oran.

About twenty species are known, principally from seas of the temperate zones, as from the coasts of Northern Europe (S. norvegicus, S. viviparus), of Japan, California, New Zealand, and Van Diemen’s Land. All seem to prefer deep water to the surface, and Sebastes macrochir has been obtained at a depth of 345 fathoms. In their general form they resemble the Sea-Perches, attain to a weight of from one to four lbs., and are generally esteemed as food.

About forty species are known from tropical and sub-tropical seas. They lead a sedentary life, lying hidden in the sand, or between rocks covered with seaweed, watching for their prey, which chiefly consists of small fishes. Their strong undivided pectoral rays aid them in burrowing in the sand, and in moving along the bottom. The type of their coloration is very much the same in all the species, viz. an irregular mottling of red, yellow, brown, and black colours, but the distribution of these colours varies exceedingly, not only in the same species but also in the same individuals. They do not attain to any considerable size, probably never exceeding a length of 18 inches. Their flesh is well flavoured. Wounds inflicted by their fin-spines are exceedingly painful, but not followed by serious consequences.

Glyptauchen and Lioscorpius are genera closely allied to Scorpæna, from Australian seas.

Setarches is also allied to the preceding genera, and provided with very large eyes, in accordance with the depth (215 fathoms) which the two species known at present inhabit; one has been found near Madeira, the other near the Fiji Islands.

Nine species are known from the tropical Indo-Pacific. They belong to the most singularly formed and most beautifully coloured fishes of the Tropics, and formerly were believed to be able to fly, like Dactylopterus. But the membrane connecting their pectoral rays is much too short and feeble to enable them to raise themselves from the surface of the water.

Two species from the Indian Ocean. These fishes are very small, but of interest on account of the prolongation of their pectoral fins, which indicates that they can take long flying leaps out of the water. However, this requires confirmation by actual observation.

Seven species. This singular genus is peculiar to the temperate parts of the South Pacific, occurring at the Cape, on the coast of South Australia, and Chili. The largest species (A. torvus) attains a length of two and a half feet. Nothing is known of its mode of life.

Four species are known from the Indo-Pacific, of which S. horrida and S. verrucosa are the most generally distributed, and, unfortunately, the most common. They are justly feared on account of the great danger accompanying wounds which they inflict with their poisoned dorsal spines, as has been already noticed above, p. 191. The greatest length to which they attain does not seem to exceed eighteen inches. They are very voracious fishes, and their stomach is of so great a capacity that they are able to swallow fishes one-third of their own bulk.

These fishes belong to the smallest of Acanthopterygians, scarcely exceeding 1½ inches in length. Two species are known, which are rather common on the coral reefs of the Pacific.

Only one small species, Ch. multibarbis, is known, from the coasts of India and China.

To complete the list of Scorpænoid genera, we have to mention Tænianotus, Centropogon, Pentaroge, Tetraroge, Prosopodasys, Aploactis, Trichopleura, Hemitripterus, Minous and Pelor.

Eighth Family—Nandidæ.

Body oblong, compressed, covered with scales. Lateral line interrupted. Dorsal fin formed by a spinous and soft portion, the number of spines and rays being nearly equal; anal fin with three spines, and with the soft portion similar to the soft dorsal. Ventral fins thoracic, with one spine, and five or four rays. Dentition more or less complete, but feeble.

This small family consists of two very distinct groups.

A. Plesiopina. Marine fishes of small size, with pseudobranchiæ and only four ventral rays. Plesiops from the coral-reefs of the Indo-Pacific, and Trachinops from the coast of New South Wales, belong to this group.

B. Nandina. Freshwater fishes of small size from the East Indies, without pseudobranchiæ, and five ventral rays. The genera are Badis, Nandus, and Catopra.

Ninth Family—Polycentridæ.

Body compressed, deep, scaly. Lateral line none. Dorsal and anal fins long, both with numerous spines, the spinous portion being the more developed. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five soft rays. Teeth feeble. Pseudobranchiæ hidden.

Only two genera, each represented by one or two species in the Atlantic rivers of Tropical America, Polycentrus and Monocirrhus, belong to this family. They are small insectivorous fishes.

Tenth Family—Teuthididæ.

Body oblong, strongly compressed, covered with very small scales. Lateral line continuous. Eye lateral, of moderate size. A single series of cutting incisors in each jaw; palate toothless. One dorsal fin, the spinous portion being the more developed; anal with seven spines. Ventral fins thoracic, with an outer and an inner spine, and with three soft rays between.

This family consists of one very natural genus, Teuthis, readily recognised by the singular structure of the fins. In all the species the fin-formula is D. 13/10. A. 7/9. The incisors are small, narrow, and provided with a serrated edge. The air-bladder is large, and forked anteriorly as well as posteriorly. Their skeleton shows several peculiarities: the number of vertebræ is twenty-three, ten of which belong to the abdominal portion. The abdominal cavity is surrounded by a complete ring of bones, the second piece of the coracoid being exceedingly long, and extending along the whole length of the abdomen, where it is joined to a spinous process of the first interhæmal. The pubic bones are slender, long, firmly attached to each other, without leaving a free space between them. They are fastened by a long process which passes the symphysis of the radii, and extends on to that of the humeri.

Thirty species are known, all from the Indo-Pacific; but they do not extend eastwards beyond 140° long., or to the Sandwich Islands. They are herbivorous, and do not exceed a length of fifteen inches.

Second Division—Acanthopterygii Beryciformes.

Body compressed, oblong, or elevated; head with large muciferous cavities which are covered with a thin skin. Ventral fins thoracic, with one spine and more than five soft rays (in Monocentris with two only).

One family only belongs to this division.

Family—Berycidæ.

Body short, with ctenoid scales, which are rarely absent. Eyes lateral, large (except Melamphaës). Cleft of the mouth lateral, oblique; jaws with villiform teeth; palate generally toothed. Opercular bones more or less armed. Eight (four) branchiostegals.

This family offers several points of biological interest. All its members are strictly marine; but only two of the genera are surface-forms (Holocentrum and Myripristis). All the others descend considerably below the surface, and even some of the species of Myripristis habitually inhabit depths of from 50 to 100 fathoms. Polymixia and Beryx have been found in 345 fathoms. Melamphaës must live at a still greater depth, as we may infer from the small size of its eye; this fish is not likely to come nearer to the surface than to about 200 fathoms. The other genera named have extremely large eyes, and, therefore, may be assumed to ascend into such superficial strata as are still lit up by a certain proportion of sun-rays. The highly-developed apparatus for the secretion of superficial mucus, with which these fishes are provided, is another sign of their living at a greater depth than any of the preceding families of Acanthopterygians. In accordance with this vertical distribution, Berycoid fishes have a wide horizontal range, and several species occur at Madeira as well as in Japan.

Fossil Berycoids show a still greater diversity of form than living; they belong to the oldest Teleosteous fishes, the majority of the Acanthopterygians found in the chalk being representatives of this family. Beryx has been found in several species, with other genera now extinct: Pseudoberyx, with abdominal ventrals, from Mount Lebanon; Berycopsis, with cycloid scales; Homonotus, Stenostoma, Sphenocephalus, Acanus, Hoplopteryx, Platycornus, with granular scales; Podocys, with a dorsal fin extending to the neck; Acrogaster, Macrolepis, and Rhacolepis, from the chalk of Brazil. Species of Holocentrum and Myripristis occur in the Monte Bolca formation.

One species only is known (M. japonicus) from the seas off Japan and Mauritius. It does not attain to any size, and is not common.

One species only is known (H. mediterraneus), which occurs in the Mediterranean, the neighbouring parts of the Atlantic, and in the sea off Japan.

Four species are known from New Zealand and Madeira.

Anoplogaster is an allied genus from tropical parts of the Atlantic; it is scaleless.

Five species are known from Madeira, the tropical Atlantic, and the seas of Japan and Australia. The species figured is B. decadactylus, common at Madeira, and occurring near Japan at a depth of 345 fathoms; it attains a length of 1½ feet.

Two species, deep-sea fishes of the Atlantic; they are very scarce, as only three or four specimens have been found hitherto.

Three species are known: P. nobilis from Madeira and St. Helena, P. lowei from Cuba, and P. japonica from Japan; the latter species from a depth of 345 fathoms. Average size eighteen inches.

Eighteen species from the tropical seas of both hemispheres, the majority living near the coast at the surface. The coloration is (principally) red or pink on the back and silvery on the sides. They attain a length of about 15 inches, and are esteemed as food.

About thirty species are known from the tropical seas of both hemispheres; all are surface fishes, and very common. The young have the upper part of the snout pointed and elongate, and were described as a distinct genus (Rhynchichthys). The coloration of the adult is uniform; red, pink, and silvery prevailing. They attain to a length of about 15 inches, and are esteemed as food.

Third Division—Acanthopterygii Kurtiformes.

One dorsal fin only, much shorter than the anal, which is long and many-rayed. No superbranchial organ.

One family only belongs to this division.

Family—Kurtidæ.

Body compressed, oblong, deep in front, attenuated behind. Snout short. The spines of the short dorsal are few in number, if developed. Scales small or of moderate size. Villiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer, and palatine bones.

This family consists of a small number of species only, which form two distinct genera, Pempheris and Kurtus. They are shore fishes of tropical seas. In both the air-bladder shows some peculiarity: in Pempheris it is divided into an anterior and posterior portion; in Kurtus it is lodged within the ribs, which are dilated, convex, forming rings. The number of vertebræ is respectively twenty-four and twenty-three.

Fourth Division—Acanthopterygii Polynemiformes.

Two rather short dorsal fins, somewhat remote from each other; free filaments at the humeral arch, below the pectoral fins; muciferous canals of the head well developed.

One family only belongs to this division.

Family—Polynemidæ.

Body oblong, rather compressed, covered with smooth or very feebly ciliated scales. Lateral line continuous. Snout projecting beyond the mouth, which is inferior, with lateral cleft. Eye lateral, large. Villiform teeth in the jaws and on the palate. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five rays.

The fishes of this natural family have been divided, on slight differences, into three genera—Polynemus, Pentanemus, and Galeoides. They are found in rather numerous species on the coasts between the tropics, and the majority enter brackish or even fresh water. Very characteristic are the free filaments which in this family are organs of touch; they are inserted on the humeral arch at some distance from the pectoral fin; but, nevertheless, can be regarded only as a detached portion of that fin; they can be moved quite independently of the fin; their number varies from three to fourteen, according to the species; in some they are exceedingly elongate, twice as long as the fish, in others they are not longer or even shorter than the pectoral. It is evident from the whole organisation of these fishes that they live on muddy bottom or in thick water, such as is found near the mouths of great rivers. Their eyes are large, but generally obscured by a filmy skin, so that those feelers must be of great use to them in finding their way and their food. The Polynemoids are very useful to man: their flesh is esteemed, and some of the species are provided with an air-bladder which yields a good sort of isinglass, and forms an article of trade in the East Indies. Some of these fishes attain to a length of four feet.

Fifth Division—Acanthopterygii Sciæniformes.

The soft dorsal is more, generally much more, developed than the spinous, and than the anal. No pectoral filaments; head with the muciferous canals well developed.

Also this division is composed of one family only.

Family—Sciænidæ.

Body rather elongate, compressed, covered with ctenoid scales. Lateral line continuous, and frequently extending over the caudal fin. Mouth in front of the snout. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Teeth in villiform bands, sometimes with the addition of canines; no molars or incisor-like teeth in the jaws; palate toothless. Præoperculum unarmed, and without bony stay. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five soft rays. Bones of the head with wide muciferous channels. Stomach coecal. Air-bladder frequently with numerous appendages (see pp. 144 and seq.)

The fishes of the “Meagre” family are chiefly coast-fishes of the tropical and sub-tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans, preferring the neighbourhood of the mouths of large rivers, into which they freely enter, some of the species having become so completely naturalised in fresh water that they are never found nowadays in the sea. Some of the larger species wander far from their original home, and are not rarely found at distant localities as occasional visitors. In the Pacific and on the coast of Australia, where but a few large rivers enter the ocean, they are extremely rare and, in the Red Sea, they are absent. Many attain a large size, and almost all are eaten.

No fossil species have been as yet discovered.

To this fish (P. chromis) more especially is given the name of “Drum,” from the extraordinary sounds which are produced by it and other allied Sciænoids. These sounds are better expressed by the word drumming than by any other, and are frequently noticed by persons in vessels lying at anchor on the coasts of the United States, where those fishes abound. It is still a matter of uncertainty by what means the “Drum” produces the sounds. Some naturalists believe that it is caused by the clapping together of the pharyngeal teeth, which are very large molar teeth. However, if it be true that the sounds are accompanied by a tremulous motion of the vessel, it seems more probable that they are produced by the fishes beating their tails against the bottom of the vessel in order to get rid of the parasites with which that part of their body is infested. The “Drum” attains to a length of more than four feet, and to a weight exceeding a hundred lbs. Its air-bladder has been figured on p. 146.

Micropogon is closely allied to Pogonias, but has conical pharyngeal teeth. Two species from the western parts of the Atlantic.

Twenty species are known from the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean. One well known to the ancients, under the name of Umbra, is the Umbrina cirrhosa of the Mediterranean, the “Umbrine” or “Ombre” of the French, and the “Corvo” of the Italians. It ranges to the Cape of Good Hope, and attains a length of three feet. Also on the coasts of the United States several species occur, as U. alburna, U. nebulosa, etc.

Some fifty species are known, but their distinctive characters have been but imperfectly pointed out. They are found in all the seas and rivers in which Sciænoids generally occur, and many are entirely confined to fresh water, for instance the species figured, Sciæna richardsonii, from Lake Huron; Sc. amazonica; Sc. obliqua, ocellata, oscula, etc., from fresh waters of the United States. Sciæna diacanthus and Sc. coitor belong to the most common fishes of the coasts of the East Indies, ascending the great rivers for a long distance from the sea. One of the European species, Sciæna aquila, has an extremely wide range; it not rarely reaches the British coasts, where it is known as “Meagre,” and has been found at the Cape of Good Hope and on the coast of southern Australia. Like some of the other species it attains to a length of six feet, but the majority of the species of this genus remain within smaller dimensions. A part of the species have the second anal ray very strong, and have been placed into a distinct genus, Corvina,—thus, among others, Sc. nigra from the Mediterranean, and Sc. richardsonii.

Pachyurus is closely allied to Sciæna, but has the vertical fins densely covered with small scales.

About twenty species are known from the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The air-bladder is figured on p. 144.

Three species from the East Indian and Chinese coasts. The great development of the muciferous system on the head and the small eye leads one to suppose that these fishes live in muddy water near the mouths of large rivers. The air-bladder has been described on p. 144.

Other genera belonging to this family are Larimus, Eques, Nebris, and Lonchurus.

Sixth Division—Acanthopterygii Xiphiiformes.

The upper jaw is produced into a long cuneiform weapon.

These fishes form one small family only, Xiphiidæ.

The “Sword-fishes” are pelagic fishes, occurring in all tropical and sub-tropical seas. Generally found in the open ocean, always vigilant, and endowed with extraordinary strength and velocity, they are but rarely captured, and still more rarely preserved. The species found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans belong to the genus Histiophorus, distinguished from the common Mediterranean Sword-fish, or Xiphias, by the presence of ventral fins, which, however, are reduced to two long styliform appendages. The distinction of the species is beset with great difficulties, owing to the circumstance that but few examples exist in museums, and further, because the form of the dorsal fin, the length of the ventrals, the shape and length of the sword, appear to change according to the age of the individuals. Some specimens or species have only the anterior dorsal rays elevated, the remainder of the fin being very low, whilst in others all the rays are exceedingly elongate, so that the fin, when erected, projects beyond the surface of the water. It is stated that Sword-fishes, when quietly floating with the dorsal fin erect, can sail before the wind, like a boat.

Sword-fishes are the largest of Acanthopterygians, and not exceeded in size by any other Teleostean; they attain to a length of from 12 to 15 feet, and swords have been obtained more than three feet long, and with a diameter of at least three inches at the base. The sword is formed by the prolongation and coalescence of the maxillary and intermaxillary bones; it is rough at its lower surface, owing to the development of rudimentary villiform teeth, very hard and strong, and forms a most formidable weapon. Sword-fishes never hesitate to attack whales and other large Cetaceans, and by repeatedly stabbing these animals generally retire from the combat victorious. The cause which excites them to those attacks is unknown; but they follow this instinct so blindly that they not rarely attack boats or large vessels in a similar manner, evidently mistaking them for Cetaceans. Sometimes they actually succeed in piercing the bottom of a ship, endangering its safety; but as they are unable to execute powerful backward movements they cannot always retract their sword, which is broken off by the exertions of the fish to free itself. A piece of a two-inch plank of a whale-boat, thus pierced by a sword-fish, in which the broken sword still remains, is preserved in the British Museum.

The Rev. Wyatt Gill, who has worked as a missionary for many years in the South Sea Islands, communicates that young Sword-fishes are easily caught in strong nets, but no net is strong enough to hold a fish of six feet in length. Specimens of that size are now and then captured by hook and line, a small fish being used as bait. Individuals with the sword broken off are not rarely observed. Larger specimens cannot be captured by the natives, who are in great fear of them. They easily pierce their canoes, and only too often dangerously wound persons sitting in them.

The Mediterranean Sword-fish is constantly caught in the nets of the Tunny-fishers off the coast of Sicily, and brought to market, where its flesh sells as well as that of the Tunny.

The remarkable changes which Sword-fishes undergo at an early stage of their growth have been noticed above, p. 173 and seq.

Sword-fishes are as old a type as the Berycoids. Their remains have been found in the chalk of Lewes, and more frequently in the London clay of Sheppy, where an extinct genus, Coelorhynchus, has been recognised.

Seventh Division—Acanthopterygii Trichiuriformes.

Body elongate, compressed or band-like; cleft of the mouth wide, with several strong teeth in the jaws or on the palate. The spinous and soft portions of the dorsal fin and the anal are of nearly equal extent, long, many-rayed, sometimes terminating in finlets; caudal fin forked, if present.

Family—Trichiuridæ.

Marine fishes inhabiting the tropical and sub-tropical seas; some of them are surface-fishes, living in the vicinity of the coast, whilst others descend to moderate depths, as the Berycoids. All are powerful rapacious fishes, as is indicated by their dentition.

The oldest of the extinct genera are Enchodus and Anenchelum; they were formerly referred to the Scombroids, but belong to this family. The former has been found in the chalk of Lewes and Mæstricht; the latter is abundant in the Eocene schists of Glaris. Anenchelum is much elongate, and exhibits in the slender structure of its bones the characteristics of a deep-sea fish; it resembles much Lepidopus, but has some long rays in the ventrals. Other Eocene genera are Nemopteryx and Xiphopterus. In the Miocene of Licata in Sicily Trichiuridæ are well represented, viz. by a species of Lepidopus, and by two genera, Hemithyrsites and Trichiurichthys, which are allied to Thyrsites and Trichiurus, but covered with scales.

The following is a complete list of the genera referred to this family:—

One specimen only of this fish (N. tripes), 10 inches long, has been obtained off Madeira; it evidently lives at a considerable depth, and comes to the surface only by accident.

A rather large fish (N. nasutus), very rarely found in the sea off Madeira. The two or three specimens found hitherto measure from three to four feet in length. Probably living at the same depth as the preceding genus.

One species only is known, named A. carbo from its coal-black colour; it is evidently a deep-sea fish, very rarely obtained in the sea off Madeira. Upwards of four feet long.

This is another deep-sea form of this family, but, at present, no observations have been made as regards the exact depth at which it occurs. A specimen has been known since the year 1812; it was found on the coast of Scotland, and described as Trichiurus lepturus. The same species has been re-discovered in the West Indies, where, however, it is also extremely scarce.

The Scabbard-fish (L. caudatus) is rather common in the Mediterranean and warmer parts of the Atlantic, extending northwards to the south coast of England, where it is an occasional visitor, and southwards to the Cape of Good Hope. More recently it has been observed on the coasts of Tasmania and New Zealand. We may, therefore, justly consider it to be a deep-sea fish, which probably descends to the same depth as the preceding allied forms. It grows to a length of five or six feet, but its body is so much compressed that it does not weigh more than as many pounds. It is well known in New Zealand, where it is called “Frost-fish,” and esteemed as the most delicious fish of the colony. A still more attenuated species (L. tenuis) occurs in the sea off Japan, at a depth of some 340 fathoms.

The “Hairtails” belong to the tropical marine fauna, and although generally found in the vicinity of land, they wander frequently out to sea, perhaps merely because they follow some ocean-currents. Therefore they are not rarely found in the temperate zone, the common West Indian species (T. lepturus), for instance, on the coast of England. They attain to a length of about four feet. The number of their vertebræ is very large, as many as 160, and more. Six species are known.