139 



LARGE FINNED SERRANUS. 



Serranus aliivelis — Cuv. et Val. 



PLATE XX. 



Le Merou a hautes voiles, Cuv. et Valen. Hist I^at. dcs 

 Poissons, ii. p. 324. 



D. 10.19; A. 3.10; C. 17; P. IC; V. 1.5. 



This delicately coloured species is placed at 

 the commencement of a group characterized by 

 having markings on the body more or less spotted. 

 The general tints are unobtrusive, being of a 

 yelloM'ish brown, the fins grayish, but relieved 

 by the distinct spotting which is distributed over 

 both. It is chiefly remarkable for the height and 

 size of the dorsal fin, particularly the posterior or 

 soft rayed part of it. It inhabits the Javanese 

 Seas, but nothing farther appears to be known 

 regarding it. 



Cuvier still farther sub-divides the above 

 section, by placing together all those Serrani 

 which have the same distribution of spotted 

 markings, but they become so very small as to be 

 almost like points. One of the more remarkable 

 with this colouring is a fish, also from the Javanese 

 Seas, entirely of a fine red, or orange, spotted 



