CALLANTIIIAS PARADISEUS. 17 



entire. The opercle and sub-opercle are also scaled to the edge, and entire. On 

 the prominent and somewhat abrupt angle of the opercle, just above the axil of 

 the pectoral fins, are two adpressed straight spines, parallel to each other. They 

 are small but distinct ; and, though slender, are pretty strong and pungent. 

 The gill-opening is rather large, extending forwards halfway under the eye. 

 The branchiostegous membrane is supported by six strong and broad rays. Its 

 fore part, under the throat, is scaled. 



The shoulders and axils of the pectoral fins are quite plain, and scaled : the 

 superscapulary, scapulary, and humeral bones not being perceptible externally. 



The scales are large, arranged in horizontal straight lines; not following, at 

 least along the middle of the sides, the curvature of the lateral line or back. 

 They are very rough to the touch, when the finger is drawn forwards towards the 

 head, owing to a border of thick-set adpressed prickles on their outer edge. The 

 centre of each is smooth: the fore part is radiato- striate, like a fan, with about ., 

 twelve ribs. Their shape is vertically oblong, higher than long. 



The lateral line ascends abruptly and steeply at its origin, till it approaches 

 quite close to the line of the back, at about the fifth or sixth spine of the dorsal 

 fin. It continues close along the base of the same to the root of the last soft 

 ray ; where all trace of it disappears. Its scales are longitudinally oval or 

 elliptic, marked by a raised tube ; their hinder or outer edge is not muricate like 

 the others, but smooth. 



Above the lateral line, beyond the fifth or sixth spines of the dorsal fin, there 

 is only a single row of narrow, irregular, dimidiate, pointed scales; appearing as 

 if formed of others cut in half. 



On the pre- opercle there are about five or six semicircular rows of scales, like 

 those on the body ; increasing in size towards the edge. 

 On the opercle there are about five rows. 



On the lateral line, to the end of the dorsal fin, there are from twenty-two to 

 twenty-four marked scales ; thence to the caudal fin along the ridge of the back, 

 about ten or twelve of the ordinary unmarked sort. 



From the first marked scale of the lateral line, in a straight horizontal line to 

 the caudal fin, there are about thirty-eight scales in a row ; not reckoning the 

 minute ones on the caudal fin itself. 



Between the edge of the opercle and the vent, there are about twelve scales 

 in a row ; reckoning obliquely downwards from the lateral line. 



The dorsal fin commences in a vertical line with the upper axil of the pectoral 

 fins, and extends along three-fourths of the remainder of the back. It is lowest in 

 front, the spines becoming gradually longer; the four or five last are, however, 

 nearly equal. All the spines are rather weak and slender, and without any trace 

 of filamentous appendages to their points. The hinder soft-rayed part joins on 

 continuously, without notch or interruption, with the first ; its rays gradually 

 lengthening to the fourth or fifth, which, with the preceding and following rays 

 in less degree, is produced into a slender filamentous point, reaching to the base of 

 the caudal fin. 



The anal fin begins opposite the ninth or tenth spine of the dorsal fin, and 

 ends at the point corresponding with the termination of the same. 



The spines are rather stronger and broader than in the dorsal fin. The hinder 

 soft-rayed part is somewhat pointed or acuminate ; but all its rays, or, at least, 

 the last eight or nine, are of nearly equal length. 



The whole of both the dorsal and the anal fins is perfectly naked or fi-ee from 

 scales ; their base is seated in a shallow gi'oove ; and the last ray of each is forked 

 or divided to the base, appearing double. 



