188 SERRANID.E. 



The superscapulary of Cuvier is a parabolic bony plate, at the origin of the 

 lateral line, with the edge striato-dentate. In the upper axil of the pectoral fins 

 there is a partly smooth or naked triangle, formed by the upper part of the 

 humerus (n". 48) and the upper coracoid (n°. 49) of Cuvier.* The borders of these 

 bones are naked, and striato-dentate. 



The ridge of the back in front of the dorsal fin, with the exception of the short 

 nuchal crest, is not keeled. 



Scales small, rough-edged, and ciliate, harsh but not rigid. The only parts 

 about the head that are quite smooth, or naked, are the broad lips (foraied by 

 the intermaxillaries in the upper jaw), and the tip of the lower jaw. 



The lateral line follows the curvature of the back, and is not very conspicuous. 

 Its scales are too confused or numerous to be worth counting : at the base of the 

 caudal fin they are altogether indeterminable. 



The dorsal fin begins over the point of the opercular spine, or fore-axil of the 

 pectorals. The distance from the tip of the muzzle to its origin equals that from 

 the end of its base to the edge or tip of the caudal fin ; and the whole length 

 of its base occupies more than the middle third of the whole length of the fish. 

 Its spiny fore-part, which is about two thirds of the whole, is low and even, 

 with the spines of nearly equal length. The fourth and two or three following 

 spines are the longest, but scarcely exceed one fourth part of the depth of the body 

 below them. The web between them is deeply notched. The last spine is rather 

 longer than the last but one, and forms the fore-edge of the soft-rayed portion of the 

 fin, which is short, abrupt, and rounded, and twice the height of the spinous fore-part. 



The anal fin corresponds in position with the hinder soft-rayed portion of the 

 dorsal, but is somewhat more produced and truncate behind. Its third or last 

 spine is the longest. 



The spinous part of both these fins is seated in a deep groove : their soft-rayed 

 part is thick and fleshy at the base, and covered nearly halfway up with scales, 

 which extend also further still between the rays. Their last ray is double or 

 forked to the base, and free behind. 



Ventral fins rather large, one seventh of the whole length of the fish, placed 

 on a line with the commencement of the dorsal fin. Their last ray is partly 

 connected with the body by a w^eb. 



Spines of the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins very strong, and gi'ooved or striate 

 longitudinally in waved lines. In adult full-sized fishes of three feet long and 

 upwards, they are all unarmed : but in small or young examples some or all are 

 more or less regularly dentato-serrate, or coarsely echinate in front ; those of the 

 ventral fins, and the fore ones of the dorsal and anal, being the most remarkably 

 or copiously armed in this way. Between these two conditions, various inter- 

 mediate states occur : the spine of the ventral fins retaining the character the 

 longest. 



Pectoral fins ovato-triangular, small, about the size and length of the ventral. 

 Their rays have a coarse rough shagreened appearance, and they are scaly at the 

 base between the rays. They are placed on a line with the ventral or origin of 

 the dorsal fin, about one third of the height up the side. 



Caudal fin large, equilaterally triangular, short, evenly truncate, with the angles 

 acute, scaly at the base all over, and further up between the rays. 



Colour dull leaden-ash or grey, varying to pale drab-brown ; paler or whitish 

 on the throat and belly and about the gill membrane, darker towards the back, 

 and blackish at the top of the head and nape. Sometimes the whole is washed 

 with a faint violet or vinous tint. Only young examples below two feet in length 



* This is woll rcj)ri'seiiti'd in MM. Cuvier .iiid \'ak-iKii'iiiii's' jihito, t. 4'2. 



