17. 

 CH^TODON ARATsEUS. 



Order, Thoracic. 



Native Name, ^/^&h yZS Gal-Handaii. 



C. ARANEUS. Body very obtuse, perpendicularly striped witii dark grey, 

 approaching- to black ; the first stripe taking part of the dorsal fin, the 

 shoulder, and the eye ; the second, about one-third the centre of the dorsal fin, 

 jitretching forward to the pectoral, and terminating with the ventral fin ; tbe 

 third stripe takes a portion of the dorsal fin, crossing the body and terminating 

 with the anal fin : the caudal fin is colored like the stripes, the intervals are 

 white, tinged with blue. The iris silvery. Lateral line very visible and 

 arched, conve.xing towards the eye, 



Br anchiostegoiis rays 5. jDorsaZ 21, twelve spinous. Pectoral li:. Ventral 6, 

 one spinous. Anal 13, three spinous. Caudal 18. 



The Gal-Handah of the Cingalese is a singular fish of its species, 

 and therefore admired. It is found in rocky situations, which offer 

 it protection from larger fish of prey. The flesh is delicate and 

 white, and although so small, is much esteemed. It rarely exceeds 

 three inches in length. 



Block has given a bad figure of this fish, tab. 198, fig. 2, evidently 

 taken from a specimen in spirits. It forms the genus Dascyllus of 

 Cuvicr. 



Figure — The natural size of ihe Specimen. 



