4 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



opercle finely serrated on the posterior margin of its vertical limb, four large serratures at its angle 

 directed downwards and backwards, inferior limb rather oblique and entire. Opercle with three 

 spines, the upper and lower partially hidden by the scales, the centre one flat and distinct. 



T ee th — Villiform in upper and lower jaws, vomer, and palate ; a canine on either side of each 

 intermaxillary, teeth in front of upper jaw the strongest, and curved slightly backwards ; in the 

 lower jaw the posterior teeth the longest and strongest. 



Fins — First dorsal spine rather more than half the height of the second, which is slightly 

 shorter than the third, from thence the rest of the spines are about the same height. Ventral spine 

 weak. Anal, first spine a little more than half the length of the second, which is the strongest but 

 not quite so long as the third, the soft rays twice the length of the third spine. Fins rounded. 



Lateral line — In upper fifth of body on the thirteenth row of scales. 



Colours — Brownish grey on the back, the intensity of which gradually fades towards the 

 abdomen. When living there are five or six dark vertical bands on the sides, but these fade after 

 death. The whole of the head, body, and fins is covered with round dark brown, or black spots 

 (sometimes absent on the fins), the largest, amounting to blotches, being on the sub- and inter- 

 opercles and jaws. Fins darkish grey ; dorsal darkest at its basal half, its margin also stained 

 of a deep colour. Iris with a golden margin. 



It does not appear to exceed thirteen inches in length. 



Habitat — Seas of India, and Malaysia. 



* Serranus flavo-cceruleus. 



Serranus flavo-cceruleus, Guv. & Val. ii. p. 297; Bennett, Fishes of Ceylon, pi. 19; 

 Giinther, Catal. i. p. 145. 



B. vii. D. T-gVh- P. 18. V. i. A. f. C. 15. 



Preopercle with flat and strong denticulations at the angle. Opercle with three flat spines, 

 the superior and inferior of which are small, and with difficulty to be distinguished. 



Fins — Caudal slightly emarginate, the other fins rounded. 



Colours — Deep blue with some paler spots on the sides posterior to the pectorals, which as 

 well as the back become brown after death. All the fins yellow, some black at the extremity of 

 the ventrals. 



Habitat — Seas of Ceylon, Malabar, Mozambique, and of the Mauritius. 



* Serranus erythrurus. 

 Serranus erythrurus, Guv. & Val. ii. p. 320. 



B. vii. D. fi-. P. 17. V. i A. f. C. 17. 



Preopercle finely denticulated posteriorly, smooth inferiorly. Fins rounded. 

 Colours — Back and upper part of head greenish shot with red, the lower portion of the body 

 silvery white. Dorsal greenish, pectorals, ventrals, and anal yellow, caudal red. 



Serranus lanceolatus, Plate I. Fig. 1 and 2. 



HOLOCENTRUS LANCEOLATUS, Blocll, t. 242, f. 1. {ijOlOlij) 



Serranus lanceolatus, Guv.& Val. ii. p. 316 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 8 ; Giinther, Catal. i. 

 p. 107. 



