62 



BERYCID.E. 



and opens upon the anterior lobe on the upper, and beneath the hinder lobe on the 

 under surface. The exposed part of the whole is thickly retro-echinulate ; and 

 the hinder edges, both of the superimposed and principal subjacent lamina, are 

 pectinato-ciliate. The covered parts, about two thirds of the whole, are quite 

 smooth, and finely sinuato-striate. The depth of one of these scales is equal to 

 two or three times its length or width. 



The ordinary scales, above and below the lateral line at the same point, are 

 not half so large, and are simple or not winged, but irregularly oblong vertically ; 

 with both the front and hinder edges straight, not lobed ; the latter being pecti- 

 nato-ciliate. Their exposed part, which is from a half to one third of the whole, 

 is retro-echinulate ; and the length or width of the scale is about three fifths of its 

 height. Those on the flanks and towards the belly are less echinulate or rough 

 than those above and near the lateral line. 



The scaled part terminates forwards, on the top of the head or nape, in a pair 

 of scales placed a little apart, and in advance of the rest ; each furnished with a 

 rough, central, longitudinal crest or keel joining on to, and continuing backwards 

 the two central crests or ridges of the skull. 



There remains only to be described the curious ventral keel. This commences 

 between the root of the ventral fins, whence it extends to, and terminates at, the 

 vent. It is a prominent, simple, serrate keel, composed in two examples of eleven, 

 and in the third of thirteen scales of a peculiar structure, resembling those of the 

 abdominal keel in the Herring ; having two lateral wings embracing the edge of 

 the abdomen, and a strong, sharp, middle glassy point or short spine directed 

 backward, and lying in an imbricated manner. These points and scales are 

 nearly quite smooth and entire, or only here and there echinulate, or armed with 

 small lateral teeth or spinules on their surfaces and edges ; not regularly rough 

 and serrulate, as figured in Trachichthys australis, Shaw. 



All the prominent bones, spines, crests, ridges, or angles about the head are 

 either striated, or rough and scabrous. The cells on the shoulders, nape, and top 

 of the head are punctate. 



The general colour varies from pale claret, with the flanks and belly blackish, 

 to a dull, muddy scarlet, fuller and more rosy above the lateral line, with 

 brighter tints of pink or crimson about the top of the head and nape, especially 

 above the eyes; paler and somewhat silvery towards the belly. The whole 

 body is suffused and obscured with a gi-eyish muddy or dirty tint, particularly 

 on the sides of the breast and belly ; where it is caused, apparently, by the shining 

 through of a black or dark peritoneum. The ridge of the back, along the base of 

 the dorsal fin, is also darker-muddy than the rest. The crests and ridges about 

 the head are, on the contrary, clearer red ; the bottom of the cells on the cheeks 

 or sides of the head, and border of the preopercle, of the brightest pearly -silver. 

 The iris is, while fresh, greenish-iridescent and opaline, with dusky-brown clouds ; 

 presently becoming uniform pearly-silver. The whole inside of the opercles or 

 branchial opening, like the mouth, the tongue, and gullet, deep mulberry-black. 



The fins are brighter or clearer scarlet than the body ; paler and transparent to- 

 wards the edges, and the rays deeper coloured generally than the web, especially 

 in the dorsal and caudal fins. 



The following observations were made on the anatomy and osteology of 

 a female individual, taken on the 29th of October 1839; wliich altliougli 

 in spawn, and larger than the others, was the dullest in its colouring ; 

 being rather vinous or claret-brown than scarlet, except the fins. 



