Sphærodon is closely allied to Lethrinus, but has scales on the cheek. One species from the Indo-Pacific.
Pagrus.—Body oblong, compressed, with scales of moderate size. Several pairs of strong canine-like teeth in both jaws; molars arranged in two series. Cheeks scaly. The spines of the dorsal fin, eleven or twelve in number, are sometimes elongate, and can be received in a groove; anal spines three.
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.
Pagellus.—Body oblong, compressed, with scales of moderate size. Jaws without canines; molars on the sides arranged in several series. Cheeks scaly. The spines of the dorsal fin, from eleven to thirteen in number, can be received in a groove; anal spines three.
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.
Chrysophrys.—Body oblong, compressed, with scales of moderate size. Jaws with four or six canine teeth in front, and with three or more series of rounded molars on each side. Cheeks scaly. The spines of the dorsal fin, eleven or twelve in number, can be received in a groove; anal spines three.
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.