62 AZIIRINE. 



the fins are always of a fine vermilion colour, but in the Blue 

 Roach they are white. The head is small and depressed, the 

 back arched; dorsal fin far behind, oeginning half-way between 

 the posterior edge of the eye and the end of the scaly portion 

 of the tail; half-way also between the first ray of the ventral 

 and the anal fin, with nine or ten rays, the last double. The 

 snout blunt, mouth small, without teeth. Pectoral fins long, 

 reaching nearly to the origin of the ventrals, with sixteen rays. 

 From the vent the body becomes much more slender; anal fin 

 with twelve rays, the last ray double; caudal fin forked, with 

 nineteen rays. 



That nothing may be omitted as regards this little-known 

 species, I add my notes as taken from an examjole in my 

 possession. The length four inches and three fourths, depth 

 one inch and a fourth at some distance before the dorsal fin; 

 the slope forward, beginning at the furthest third of the pectoral, 

 and descending rapidly forward. Gape narrow, jaws nearly 

 equal; eyes large and much in front. Body compressed, 

 diminishing backward from the front of the dorsal and from 

 the vent. The anal fin begins oj^posite the termination of the 

 dorsal. Pectorals low; ventrals rather large; scales also large. 



