34 DIPLECTRUM FASCICULARE. 



The dorsal fin is single, long, and nearly of the same elevation throughout ; it 

 begins with the pectoral, and ends before the base of the caudal fin ; it has ten del- 

 icate spines, the first and second shortest, and twelve soft rays. The pectoral is 

 rather broad, rounded behind, and has fifteen rays. The ventral arises with the 

 pectoral fin, and extends rather beyond it ; it has one spinous and five soft rays, of 

 which the second and third are slightly prolonged. The anal begins nearly with 

 the soft dorsal, but is not as long ; it has three delicate spines, the first minute, the 

 second twice as long, and the third double the length of the second ; it has seven 

 soft rays. The caudal is large and crescentic, with the extremities of the horns 

 prolonged by two or three of the outer rays ; it has sixteen rays. 



The scales are small, oblong, unguiform, rounded and ciliated behind, nearly 

 straight before, with an undulated margin caused by twelve radiating lines. The 

 lateral line corresponds with the outline of the back to the root of the tail, when 

 it descends to the median plane ; its scale is sub-triangular with the apex behind, 

 rounded, and ciliated ; the excretory duct terminates in three smaller tubes 

 behind. 



Colour. The ground colour along the back is brown, with a tint of faAvn- 

 colour, or it is bronzed ; the sides are fawn-colour above, silvery below the lateral 

 line, and are marked with seven or eight horizontal lines of ultra-marine blue ; 

 the first begins at the occiput, is slightly arched inwards, and ends about the sixth 

 dorsal ray ; the second goes from the superior angle of the opercle, and is less 

 arched ; the third departs from the middle of the posterior border of the opercle ; 

 and the fourth from under its angle ; the three others become paler and paler, and 

 finally disappear in the white colour of the belly ; the head above is marked with 

 two or three lines of a similar colour, which run transversely ; or they form chev- 

 rons, with their angles directed forwards ; the dorsal fin is semi-transparent, and 

 marked with alternate lines of pale blue and pale yellow ; the anal is transparent, 

 and marked with pale yellow spots ; the caudal has numerous cupreous spots 

 arranged in vertical lines ; the ventral is pale yellow in front, and white behind ; 

 the posterior part of the palate and the branchial arches are pale yellow. 



