tremely numerous and minute extremities of the enamel-tubuli.
These, commencing as it seems from the external surface, divide
and subdivide as they pass inwards towards the dentine, not maintaining
a parallel course, but crossing each other, in an irregularly
and variously bent direction (b, fig. 2).
The pulp-cavity becomes consolidated in the old incisors by a
coarse cellular ossification of the remains of the pulp (c, fig. 2).
39. There are certain species of Sparoid fishes)' which, like the
Gilt-heads, have four or six strong, conical, laniary teeth at the anterior
extremity of each jaw, with hemispherical molars behind ; but these
teeth never exceed two rows, and the small graniform teeth, when
present, are limited to the space posterior to the laniaries. This dentition,
which characterizes the genus Pagrus of Cuvier, is represented
at fig. 15, Plate 1. The pharyngeal teeth likewise differ in form from
those of the Chrysophrys, being small and sharp pointed. In the
Braise (Pagrus vulgaris), these teeth are arranged in strong pectinated
rows. They are fewer in number, and of a conical form in the Pagrus
Orphus. In one species, the anterior conical teeth of the upper jaw are
directed forwards and project from the mouth, the two external ones
being longer than the rest; from this structure Cuvier has designated
the species Pagrus laniarius.
In another group of Sparoid fishes (Pagellus, Cuv.) which have
rounded molars, like the Chrysophrides and Pagri, the anterior teeth
are restricted in their development, and form one or more pectinated
or villous rows at the front of the mouth (1).
The pharyngeal teeth are unciform and stronger than in the Pagri.
There is one species of Pagellus which offers an anatomical peculiarity
so closely connected with the dental apparatus as to merit a
brief notice. The superior maxillary bones are expanded, and their
texture is as dense as that of the hard enamel of fishes’ teeth: hut
they are edentulous as in most other fishes. The habits of the species,
hence called Pagellus lithognathus, are not sufficiently known to afford a
knowledge of the use of these petrous maxillaries : they characterize 1
(1) The intestinal canal is generally longer in the Pagelli, which are compelled, from the
inferior armature of the mouth, to feed on organized matter of a lower grade than do the more
formidably toothed Pagri and Ventices.
the adult period, when the fish, for example, has acquired a length
of three feet: in a specimen measuring a foot long, the enlargement
of the maxillaries has scarcely begun to take place.
An extinct genus of Sparoid fishes, called Sparnodus by M. Agassiz,
has conical teeth on the outer margin of both jaws, but with an
apex so obtuse that they present nearly the form of the molars of Chrysophrys
: the dentition differs from that of the Gilt-heads, inasmuch
as the molars form only a single row.
In the genus Lethrinus the intermaxillary and preman dibular
bones are furnished with villiform, laniary, and molar teeth ; but the
latter are always restricted to a single row, and are sometimes of a
large size. The laniary form and development is confined to the four or
six anterior teeth, behind which are placed the minute villiform teeth ;
the single row of large molars distinguish the Lethrines from the
other Sparoid genera.
In the Lethrinus latidens, a species discovered by the French voyagers,
MM. Quoy and Gaimard, on the coasts of New Guinea, there are
six strong laniary teeth in the upper, and four in the lower jaw; the
first molar of the upper jaw is small and round : the second is twice
as broad in the transverse as in the antero-posterior direction ; the
three following teeth are of still larger size, and are remarkable for
their great breadth : the last molar is the smallest. This dentition is
interesting on account of its analogy with that of the singular extinct
genus Placodus.
Cantharus.—The Sea-breams belonging to this genus have their
teeth of small size, and closely aggregated on the alveolar borders of
the jaws, like the teeth of a rasp ; the anterior ones being a little
longer and more curved than the rest.
The Sparoids of the genus Box (Cuv.) have a single row of glosely-
packed flattened teeth in each jaw ; the anterior ones have simple
crowns, while those at the sides are notched in the middle of the
cutting margin.
The Scathari have a single row of flattened, pointed, but not notched
teeth, in each jaw.
The Oblatce have a single row of flattened and notched teeth,
h 2