2. 



ACANTHURLS VITl^ATUS. 



Order, Thoracic. 



Native Name, ^^{^^ Sewevah. 



A. viTT VTUS. Armed near the caudal fin with a sharp curved spine. 



Body striated. 



Brmichiostegous rays 3. Dorsal 35, ten spinous. Pectoral 15. Ventral 6, 

 one spinous. ^w«/ 28, two spinous. Caudal li). 



The Seweyah is an extremely scarce fish on the southern coast of 

 Ceylon : inhabits rocky situations, and is not in request but for the 

 gratification of the Naturalist. It seldom exceeds sixteen or seven- 

 teen inches in length, and is well armed near the caudal fin with a 

 sharp curved spine, which it raises or depresses at pleasure : the 

 former is the case when the animal is in a state of excitement or 

 rage. The spine, when depressed, is scarcely visible within the 

 scabbard which Nature has assigned it, resembling in appearance 

 a recent incision. 



For the present figure, six or seven specimens were procured, no 

 two of which were alike in the arrangement of the blue and yellow- 

 streaks near the caudal fin. 



No lateral line visible to the naked eye. 



Figure — Nearly the natural size of the Specimen. 



