172 MULLER'S TOPKNOT. 







body, rough from small scales, which also clothe the rays of 

 the fins. The dorsal fin begins but little above the upper jaw; 

 ventrals close under the throat, and united to the anal, and the 

 latter with the dorsal broadest posteriorly; and then both of 

 them becoming more narrow they pass under the body, so as 

 almost to be brought together on the under surface. Pectoral 

 and tail fins rather small. The colour is dark brown, with 

 stripes and blotches that are almost black, especially on the 

 head, where a broad stripe passes from each eye to their 

 respective borders. There is often a broad circular spot, which 

 sometimes is marked with a lighter centre, at the side where 

 the arch of the lateral line ends. 



This fish is subject to some remarkable variety. Thus, I 

 have seen it with almost the whole of the upper surface, 

 except the head and a small patch near the tail, without 

 colour or scales, like the lower surface; the border of the 

 dorsal and anal fins yellowish red, and with only two or three 

 rays having scales; on the tail the rays extended beyond the 

 border of the membrane. In another instance there was no 

 caudal portion, so that where the dorsal and anal fins were 

 brought closely together the body terminated. 



