9. 



SCORPiENA MILES. 



Order, Thoracic. 

 Native Name, ^^^§^^. Ratoo Gini Maiia — Great Red Fire. 



S. MILES. Spines round the eyes, and partially on the lateral line 



near the head. 



Branchiostegous rays G. Z)o;-5«/ 33, thirteen spinous. Pectoral 1^. Ventral Q, 

 one spinous. Anal 9, three spinous. Caudal 12. Head large, with six 

 cirri on the gills. Pectoral fin, with large irregular black spots, ^'entral, 

 anal, dorsal, and caudal fins, with small black spots. 



The Ratoo Gini Maha of the Cingalese inhabits rocky situations, 

 and is described as a most voracious animal. The native fishers differ 

 in opinion with regard to its wholesomeness as an article of food. 



TheScorpaena Miles, independently of colour, differs from S. volitans 

 (j)late ],) in the length of the pectoral fins, which, in the former, are 

 not so long as the body, — in the cirri on the top of the head, and in the 

 formation of the membranes of the pectoral fins, which, though in this 

 animal they are more united, are certainly not sufficiently proportioned 

 to the body to admit of volitation. 



Figure — Two-thirds the natural size of the Specimen. 



