240 FAMILY OP RIBAND-SHADED FOiiM 



son, and orange. As to the air-bladder, tlie perito- 

 neal fold (which separates this vise us and the kidneys 

 from the other viscera) divides the abdominal cavity 

 into two nearly equal parts, and from the position 

 of the intestine, the air-bladder is situated on the 

 upper and back part of the cavity. The colours of 

 the living fish are thus described by M. Risso. The 

 body presents the red hue of red precipitate of 

 mercury, transparent and traversed by bands some- 

 what darker ; the dorsal is of saffron yellow colour, 

 embroidered en rose^ and ornamented at its origin by 

 a reddish spot ; the iris is ruby red. According to 

 this author, it frequents the sea-weeds in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the shores during the whole year ; the 

 female spawns in spring; it feeds upon crustac>^« 

 ima. zoophytes, but is little esteemed as food. 



