18 



rERCID.E. 



The pectoral fins are short, broad, remarkably obtuse, or even truncate. 

 The first two rays are simple ; the second is barred ; the third both branched and 

 barred ; the nine or ten next are the longest and equal ; the two last are short 

 and simple, but barred. 



The ventral fins originate just beneath the lower axil of the pectoral ; their 

 tips reaching just to the base of the first or second spine of the anal fin. They 

 are ovato-triangular, rather large ; but not produced, like those of AntJnas sacer, 

 Bl. Their first spine is about three fifths of the length of their first branched 

 ray ; the second soft or branched ray is the longest ; and their last ray is free, not 

 webbed to the body. They are placed quite close together, Avith a long, pointed, 

 scaly appendage between them, underneath the belly ; and each fits under a 

 slight ridge on the sides of the belly, having also a rather larger but not very 

 distinct or pointed scale at its outer or upper axil. 



Both pectoral and ventral fins are perfectly free from scales. 



Caudal fin strongly lunate ; the two or three outermost branched rays at the 

 top and bottom are produced into long, slender, flexible, and hair-like filaments, 

 of which that of the uppermost fork or lobe is (contrary to Anthias sacer, Bl.) the 

 longest. The outer rays are much crowded. The web or membrane between 

 all the rays is scaled in imbricated lines up nearly to their tips. 



The general colour of the body is a delicate lilac-rose, becoming on the ridge 

 of the back a full deep rose, and passing into paler tints towards the belly. The 

 throat and fore part of the belly are a delicate pearly white. A broad suffused 

 tint of yellow extends from the eye just beneath the ridge of the back to the end 

 of the dorsal fin. 



Top of the head deep rose, with lilac tints. Upper lip yellow ; scarlet in the 

 middle. Tip of the lower lip also scarlet ; the sides pale or whitish. Naked 

 space before each eye scarlet. Both the opercles, and a patch before the pectoral 

 fins, richly pearly, or iridescent white. Eye most beautifully coloured. The 

 gi'ound of the iris is pearly ; its lower part varied with stains or clouds of yellow, 

 and richly iridescent. The upper part with a permanent bright violet stain 

 passing into lilac, leaving the inner edge clear. Pupil black. 



The dorsal and anal fins are bright yellow ; the soft rays tipped and stained 

 with red or rose. The base of all the rays is rosy. 



The pectoral fins are pale scarlet or flesh-colour, and pellucid. The rays are 

 paler than the web. 



Ventral fins whitish ; more or less stained with yellow, and tipped or streaked 

 with red. 



Caudal fin scarlet or reddish orange in the middle; the borders and forks 

 yellow. 



Of the anatomy, I have only to observe, that there are three very large and 

 distinct, but short cceca sun'ounding the pylorus. The liver is small. 



The largest individvial which has hitherto occurred, measured seven 

 inches from the tip of the muzzle to the middle of the forks of the caudal 

 fin ; or eleven inches to the end of the upper filament of the same. It 

 was taken early in the month of August. 



It is remarkable in this fish, that some time after death, when it is 

 beginning to grow dry or stale, the red colour of the sides collects, as it 

 were, into a large, round, suffused, scarlet patch, on the flanks or middle 

 of each side, at the end of the dorsal or anal fins. 



The fiijure is the size of life. 



