14. 



SPARUS DECUSSATUS. 



Order, Thoracic. 



Native Name, g.S(^S^ ^I"^^^^^-<^^«^^^'^"- 

 L_V Basket Parrot. 



S. DECUSSATUS. The back green, gradually softening inlo a yellow tinge 

 towards the lower fins; the body regularly marked, like wicker-work, by 

 graduated purple and grey tints. The head green, ornamented with 

 orange-coloured stripes and spots. Tne fins and tail yellow. 



Brcmchiostegous rays 4;. Do?-s«/ 21, nine spinous. PectoralXS. Ventral &, 

 one spinous. Anal 14, eleven spinous. Caudal 16. 



The Hembili-Girawah of the Cingalese derives its name from a 

 sort of pouch or basket in which the natives carry their Betel-Leaf, 

 (Piper Betel), Cliunam, (Shell Lime), Tobacco, and Areka-Nut, 

 (Areka Catechu), called flembili. Girawah, the Cingalese name for 

 Parrot, is a term indiscriminately applied by the natives to a variety 

 of splendid fishes with which the coast of Ceylon abounds. 



The Hembili-Girawah is edible, but is never sought after as an 

 article of food. It inhabits rocky situations, and seldom exceeds 

 fourteen or fifteen inches in length. 



Figure — The natural size of the Specimen. 



