264 RED BANDFISH. 



size has been seen nearly round, but another, only four inches 

 and a half in length, was equally compressed with the larger 

 individuals. The head slopes in front from behind the eyes, 

 which are large and lateral. Angle of the mouth depressed, 

 the gape considerable, mystache wide; teeth scarcely regular, 

 long and sharp, expanding from the jaws. Lateral line obscurely 

 marked, but visible by the insertion of muscles; and along the 

 root of the dorsal fin a row of small bony processes. No scales 

 visible on the fore part of the body, but discernible near the 

 tail. The dorsal fin begins from above the gill-covers, and 

 continues of about the same breadth until near the tail, where 

 it becomes narrower, as does the anal fin from the vent; and 

 both are united to the caudal fin, the root of which is well 

 marked and distinct; the form of this fin long-lancet-shaped. 

 Pectorals round, reaching more than half-way to the vent; the 

 belly being but of short dimensions. The dorsal fin has seventy 

 rays, the anal sixty; tail with twenty rays, those of the middle 

 in this example two inches long, and on the side less than a 

 fourth of that length. Ventrals thoracic, pointed, the rays 

 fastened down with a membrane through half their length. 



The colour of this fish is usually a brilliant red or scarlet, 

 which is deepest on the back; the belly pale. In some instances 

 the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are much more extended than 

 in others; and then they are marked with stripes of much 

 beauty, so that the appearance of the fish has countenanced the 

 opinion that there is more than one European species. Such 

 a one is described by Rafinesque, under the name of C. mar- 

 ginata, but the figure he gives is below contempt. The following 

 is a description of this variety of the Bandfish: the example 

 eleven inches in length, with the general form of the species; 

 the breadth of the dorsal and anal fins remarkable, and the 

 extremity of the caudal fin lengthened out into a thread. The 

 dorsal fin begins anterior to the border of the gill-covers, fourth 

 ray longer than the three anterior rays. Body covered along 

 its posterior portion with deeper purple-looking scales, which 

 do not touch each other. Pectorals begin under the second 

 ray of the dorsal, broad and round. Upper portion of the head 

 and jaws red, on the sides pale yellow. Ventral fins and belly 

 pearly white; pectorals pale red. Membrane of the doasal and 

 anal fins pale yellow, with red rays, and a light purple border. 



