8. IIOLOCENTEUM. 43 



ones besides ; the hypobranchials are separated from one another, 

 elongate, triangular, and entirely covered with \-iUiforni teeth. 



The jJi'corhital is scarcely widened in front, but armed vrith a 

 strong, thick, and striated spinous tooth ; several small ones follow 

 posteriorly, but they are scarcely larger than the remainder of the 

 serrature of the infraorbital arch. The anterior end of the turbinal 

 bone is broad and obtuse. 



The serrature of aU the ojurcles is very distinct and complete ; 

 even the scales, covering in a single series the base of the operculum, 

 are similarly striated and serrated ; likewise the suprascapula and 

 the coracoid. But the praeopercnlar spine is rather short, not much 

 larger than that of the operculum, its length being 2^ in that of 

 the posterior edge of the praeoperculum. 



The vestibular opening is elongate, ovate, of moderate size. 



The uroliycd as in H. violaceum. 



The length of the abdominal part of the vertebral column is 11 

 in that of the caudal. The haemal and neural spines are of equal 

 strength. The length of the strongest interhocmal equals that of 

 the first seven vertebrje. 



18. Holocentrum melanotoptermn. 



Sleeker; Celebes, viii. p. 302. 



The height of the body is 3^ in the total length, the length of the 

 head 3|— 3f . The upper maxillary bone reaches to below the middle 

 of the eye. Operculum with two strong spines, the upper of which 

 is rather longer. The second, third, and fom-th dorsal spines longest, 

 but not half as high as the body, and shorter than the longest ray ; 

 the lobes of the caudal equal, and 51 in the total length ; the third 

 anal spiue nearly equal to the longest dorsal spine. Eed ; the first 

 dorsal black, with rose-coloured spots between the middle spines. {Bl.) 



Sea of Celebes. 



19. Holocentrum violaceum. 



Bleeher, Ambviiut, iv. p. 335. 



D. 11 I 14. A. i L. lat. 36-37. L. transv. 3/6. Vert. 11/16. 



The height of the body is 3^ in the total length, the length of the 

 head 3| ; the distance between the eyes is 51 in the latter ; the 

 length of the snout is not much less than the diameter of the 

 eye ; jaws nearly equal in front ; the turbinal bone with a bifid 

 process, covering the intermaxillary. Operculum with two flat 

 spines, distant from one another, tht; lower of which is the smaller ; 

 praBoperculum -with the posterior edge vertical ; the third, foiu-th, 

 and fifth dorsal spines longest, shorter than the pra^opercidar edge 

 mentioned; caudal lobes equal; the third anal spine strong, but 

 one -sixth of the total length only ; ventral and pectoral fins nearly 

 equal in length. Violet ; each scale with a rosc-eoloiu-ed transverae 



