17 



and the markings much more conspicuous. Although the colours vary with the 

 ground on which the animal rests, this variation is only in depth of tint ; the 

 markings are constant for the same individual, and vary but little in different 

 individuals, they have therefore quite as much importance as a specific character as 

 any other feature in the animal. 



The markings, then, in the living fish consist of large dark blotches and small white 

 spots on a yellowish-grey ground. The dark blotches, brown or black according 

 to their intensity, are arranged symmetrically so as to form a definite pattern: the 

 largest blotches are in three rows, one along the lateral line, one near the base of 

 the dorsal, and one near that of the anal fin. Usually there are five or six of these 

 blotches in each row, but in some specimens there may be as many as eight in one or 

 more of the rows. The first blotch of the dorsal row is close behind the anterior 

 curve of the lateral line, and the last near the base of the tail ; the first of the central 

 row is just above the end of the pectoral fin, and the first of the ventral series is at 

 the base of the pelvic fin. The first and last in each series are always fainter and 

 smaller, while those in the centre of the series are larger and more conspicuous. In 

 each of the intervals between the blotches in each series is a lighter white spot, 

 smaller and with a more definite outline than the dark blotches. Other white spots 

 frequently appear around the dark blotches. Between the central row of blotches, 

 and each of the external rows is another row of similar blotches of smaller size ; 

 these are closer together, nine or ten of them can be usually counted in each series, 

 and in the intervals between them there are small white spots. These are the 

 principal markings, but there are in addition narrow irregular branching streaks of a 

 lighter brown extending from the edges of the dark blotches over the spaces between 

 them ; these streaks usually contain dark or black specks, but under certain conditions 

 they are everywhere almost as dark as the blotches, and then the latter are connected 

 together by an irregular network of black streaks. Outside the external series of 

 blotches, between them and the bases of the dorsal and anal fins respectively, is a 

 band free from markings where the ground colour is uniform and lighter than 

 elsewhere. The dorsal and anal fins themselves exhibit three distinct longitudinal 

 bands of colour ; the basal third is dark, being densely sprinkled with minute black 

 specks on a yellow ground, the middle portion is yellow without the black specks, 

 while the extreme edge is colourless, the membrane between the rays being here 

 transparent, while the skin over the extremities of the rays themselves is o^xique white. 

 The extreme dorsal and ventral edge of the tail fin are opaque white, the external 

 portion of the tail, including the terminal half, is yellow, this portion being continuous 

 with the light band which lies within the bases of the dorsal and anal fins ; the 

 internal and basal part of the tail is sprinkled with black like the basal part of the 

 dorsal and anal fins. The right side of the head is coloured like the parts of the 

 body-surface between the blotches, that is, with blacks specks connected by faint 

 brown lines on a yellowish ground. 



