90 CARANX HIPPOS. 



root of the pectoral tin, but does not extend as far back, and has one spinous and 

 five soft rays. The anal is shaped like the soft dorsal, but is shorter, though it 

 extends as far back, and has a similar wall of scales at its root ; it has one spinous 

 and twenty soft rays, and is preceded by two spines, placed in a groove, the 

 anterior of which is very small. The caudal is broadly forked, and has eighteen 

 rays. 



The lateral line is, at first, near the superior fourth of the body, and concur- 

 rent Avith the dorsal outline ; but at the posterior third of the anterior dorsal 

 fin it curves gradually down, and is in the median plane of the body at the 

 posterior dorsal ; and thus it runs straight to the tail ; this straight portion is 

 covered with fifty plates, small at first, but increasing in size to the middle of 

 the space between the extremity of the dorsal and the root of the caudal fin, 

 when they gradually again decrease in size. These plates are broad vertically, 

 but narrow in the antero-posterior direction, and are armed with a carina, which 

 terminates behind in a spine or pointed extremity. 



Colour. The head above is greenish-olive, with a strong yellow tint ; the 

 cheeks, pre-opercle, and opercle are golden, the latter with a black blotch at its 

 j)Osterior angle ; the back is bright greenish-olive, tinted with yellow ; the sides 

 and belly are golden ; the anterior dorsal is semi-transparent, with slight dusky 

 shades ; the posterior dorsal is also semi-transparent, with numerous minute 

 dusky spots, and some few of its posterior rays are dark ; the pectoral is perfectly 

 transparent, with a pale yellowish tint, most distinct near its root ; the ventral fin 

 has its rays of a light colour, shaded with blue ; the last ray is white, and the 

 membrane is transparent ; the anal is semi-transparent in front, with a yellowish 

 tint behind; the caudal is yellomsh-brown. 



Dimensions. The length, from the opercle to the tip of the caudal fin, is equal 

 to three heads and a quarter ; the elevation, to a head and one eighth ; total 

 length, sixteen inches. 



