BY W. MACLEAY, F.L.S. 321 



total length ; it is slightly concav^e ; the anal has three spines of 

 moderate size, the third being the longest ; it has seven soft rays ; 

 the ventrals are a little in front of the pectorals, or on the line of 

 the upper part of their insertion ; the pectorals are rather longer 

 than the caudal, and formed of sixteen rays ; all the fins are scaly. 

 The colour is uniform, of a reddish-yellow, probably orange ; the 

 fins are more red ; the extremity of the fins, and the upper part 

 of the head, are dark ; no spots or bands. Length of specimen 

 over eleven inches. Form of Sehastes. Swan Eiver." 



Serranus lepidopterus, as described by Eichards, (Ann. and Mag. 

 Nat. Hist., 1842, Vol. IX., p. 18.) cannot I think be a Serranus 

 at all, his description is taken only from a drawing made by a 

 convict at Port Arthur, Tasmania, and is in all likelihood incorrect. 



Geuus Plectropoma, Cuv. 



Like Serranus, but with spinous teeth directed forwards on the 

 lower limb of the praeoperculum. 



Tropical Seas. 



39. Plectropoma maculatum, B1. 

 Gunth. Cat. L, p. 156. All. & Macl., Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. 

 Wales, Yol. I., p. 265. Bleek., Atlas Ichth. Perc. tab. 13, fig. 3. 

 D. 8/10-11. A. 3/7-8. L. lat. 110. Yert. 10/14. 

 Prseoperculum exceedingly finely serrated behind, with three 

 spinous teeth below ; sub and inter- operculum entire. Caudal 

 fin truncate in young specimens, in older ones emarginate. Eed : 

 head, body, and vertical fins with blue spots, those of the head 

 and of the front part of the body oblong, elliptical, arranged in 

 irregular longitudinal rows, the others circular and smaller. 



Fair Cape. ('' Chevert " Exp.) 



40. Plectropoma leopardixum, C. & Y. 

 Gunth. Cat. I., p. 157. Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Perc. t. 18, f. 3. 



