12 PEPCIDS. 



The basal portion of the dorsal is scaly ; the spines are strong, the third and fourth 

 are the longest, their length being more than one-third of that of the head. The 

 margin of the spinous portion is concave behind, the eighth spine being a little shorter 

 than the last three. The soft dorsal is much elevated, the longest (eleventh) ray being 

 half the length of the head. Caudal rounded posteriorly. The anal is as much ele- 

 vated as the soft dorsal ; the spines are short and stout, the third being rather 

 longer than the second, and about one-fourth of the length of the head. The teeth, 

 and especially the canines, are very feeble. 



Length 19 inches. 



Zanzibar. 



PLECTROPOMA, Cuv. 



25. Plectropoma maculatum. [316, 421, 444, 474, 566.] 



This species is subject to very great diversities of colour, without the slightest struc- 

 tural divergence. AYe have examined seven distinct varieties, one of which (d) has been 

 described as P. maculatum, and another (a) as P. melanoleucum ; the other five appear 

 to be hitherto unnoticed. 



The specimens examined form a very complete series ; each variety exhibits strong 

 points of similarity to those before and after it, while the extremes are so different that, 

 without an examination of the intermediate varieties, they might well be regarded as 

 distinct species. We regret much that our series is chiefly composed of dried speci- 

 mens ; and it must be left to future researches to ascertain whether sex or season has any 

 influence on the coloration of this fish. 



Synonymy of var. d : — 



Bodianus niaculatus, Block, t. 228 ; Lacep. iv. pp. 280, 293. 



Plectropoma punetatum, Quoy 8f Gaim. Voy. Freycin. Zuol. Poiss. p. 318, t. 45. f. 1. 



maculatum, Cuv. § Vol. ii. p. 393; Bleek. Verhand. Bat. Genootsch. xxii. (1849) Perc. p. 39, 



and (1850) Jav. p. 418; Giinth. Fish. i. p. 15G. 



Synonymy of var. a : — 



Renard, i. pi. 22. f. 120; Valentyn, f. 497. 

 Bodianus nielanoleucus, Lacep. iv. pp. 283, 297. 



cyclostoma, Lacep. iii. pi. 20. f. 1, iv. pp. 282, 295. 



Labrus loevis, Lacep. iii. pp. 431, 479, pi. 23. f. 2. 



Plectropoma melanoleucum, Cuv. ^- Val. ii. p. 388 j Peters, Wiegm. Arch. 1855, p. 238; Giinth. 

 Fish. i. p. 157. 



D-Sr A.5J3. L. lat. 110. 



Diagnosis. — Prseoperculum exceedingly finely serrated (or entire) behind, with from 

 three to five spinous teeth below. Sub- and interoperculum entire. Caudalis truncated. 



