290 



PLECTOGNATHI. BALTSTID^. 



supporting plate, and offers no impediment to 

 the progress of the fish through the water."* 



These fishes are generally adorned with rich 

 and brilliant colours, often arranged in diagonal 

 lines or bands ; they abound in the seas of hot 

 climates, generally swimming among the rocks, 

 like the Chcetodons, which they not a little re- 

 semble. Some have the body set with curiously 

 branched filaments. Their flesh is rank and un- 

 wholesome. 



We illustrate the genus by a description and 

 figure of Batistes velatus (Bloch.), a West In- 



dian species which has fallen under our observa- 

 tion. The dorsal and each lobe of the caudal are 

 produced into long pointed filaments. The body 

 is purplish brown on the upper parts, with the 

 throat and belly pale buff". Several curved lines 

 and bands pass across the face, of a rich azure 

 hue, with yellow edges. The fins are blackish 

 purple. 



* Comp. Anat. ii. Q^. 



