SERIOLA ZONATA. 75 



preceded by two minute spines. The caudal is broadly forked, and is preceded 

 by a dimple, both above and below ; it has nineteen rays. 



The scales are minute. The lateral line runs at first, Avith very slight undula- 

 tions, near the superior fourth of the body, and is concurrent with the outline 

 of the back; but at the second dorsal it gradually descends to the median plane, 

 and at the extremity of the dorsal it is slightly elevated into a carina. 



Colour. The head above is dusky, with an olive tint ; below the eyes it is 

 silvery, with yelloAAash-brown shades ; from each orbit runs upwards and back- 

 wards a broad dusky band, to meet in front of the dorsal fin ; the body, above 

 the lateral line, is a very pale bluish slate-colour, and on each side it is marked 

 with vertical, dusky bands ; these are most remarkable above the lateral line, 

 indistinct below it, and are, in fact, not seen at all when the fish is just taken 

 from the water; the anterior band runs to the root of the pectoral fin, but 

 seldom below it; the second is longer, and touches the posterior extremity of 

 the pectoral fin ; the third is between the ventral and anal fins, and is most 

 distinct of all at the belly; the fourth is at the origin of the anal fin, and 

 the fifth about its middle ; and besides these bands, there is a dusky blotch at 

 the root of the caudal. A yellow, horizontal band extends from the opercle 

 to the tail, and a second band of similar colour, but less distinct, is often found 

 below it. 



The anterior dorsal is bluish, dusky, interspersed with lighter tints, and is 

 light-coloured at its base ; the posterior dorsal is semi-transparent, dusky-bluish, 

 with lighter tints, especially near its superior border, and the three first rays 

 have their tips white ; the pectoral is transparent, with the slightest yellow 

 tint, and a dusky blotch on the inner face, at its origin ; the anal is dusky-olive, 

 with a yellowish tint at its anterior part, and with its lower margin white; 

 the rays of the ventral fin are white, but the membrane uniting them is bluish 

 below, and yellowish-brown above ; the caudal is yellowish-olive, darkest near 

 its root. 



