86 VHRCIUM. 



23. ANTHIAS. 



Anthias, sp., Bl. Sckn. p. 303 ; Cuv. ^ Veil. ii. p. 249. 

 Caprodon, Tentm. i^- Schleg. Fmm. Japcm. Poiss. p. 64. 



Seven branchiostegaLs. Teeth villiform, with canines in both the 

 jaws ; teeth on the palatine bones ; tongaie smooth, or with small 

 teeth. One dorsal, generally with ten spines ; the anal fin with 

 three. Caudalis forked, generally one or several of the fins very 

 elongate. Operculum spiniferous, prseoperculum serrated. Scales 

 moderate. 



Nearly all the seas of the temperate and tropical regions. 



In separating these fishes from the true Serrani, I apply the 

 larger size of the scales as an absolute character, rather than the 

 upper maxillaiy bone being covered with scales — the latter cha- 

 racter occiu'ring too often in fishes which cannot be separated from 

 the tnie Serrani. Excluding the last four species, which may pro- 

 bably form types of separate genera, we have a veiy natm-al groiip, 

 with the same physiognomy, with rather large scales, and mostly 

 with remarkably developed fins. On the other hand, I am rather 

 inclined to bring the Serranns creoJus also into this genus, as it has 

 the exterior appearance of Anthias ; but I a~ln prohibited from doing 

 so by its very small scales, in which and other respects it resembles 

 very much Apsilus fuscus. 



1. Anthias sacer. 



? 'Av6ias, AiXoTTtay, Aristot. vi. c. 10, 16, 17, ix. c. 2, 37. 



Antliife prima species, Boiidel. vi. c. 11. p. 188; Gesner, pp. 55, 62, 



and Edit. Frankf. p. 13 ; Aldrov. i. c. 19 ; Jonston, i. cap. 1. t. 16 ; 



Willughhi, p. 325 ; Ray, p. 138. 

 Labnis, sp. 3, Artedi, Si/non. p. 54. 



• anthias, Lhui. Si/st. Nut. i. p. 1283. 



Perea pennanti, Block, Schrift. Natiirf. Freimde Berlin, x. pi. 9. f. 1. 

 Anthias sacer, Bl. t. 315 ; Bl. Schn. "p. 303 ; Cue. 8f Val. ii. p. 250. 



pi. 31 ; Lowe, Fishes of Madeira, p. 19. t. 4. 

 Lutjanus antliias, Lacep. iv. p. 197; Bisso, Ichthyol. de Nice, p. 260. 



D.i"^. A.|. L. lat. 37. 



Third spine of dorsal, ventral, and caudal fins miich elongate. 

 Red in life ; head with three yellow bands ; two bands on the side 

 of occiput, and a scries of spots at the base of the dorsal fin brown- 

 ish green. 



Mediterranean ; Madeira. 



a. Large specimen : not good state. Madeira. Old Collection as 



Perm imperator. 



b. Adult : male. Madeira. From the Haslar Collection, 

 c-e. Adult. Madeira. From the Haslar Collection. 



/. Adult. Madeira. Presented by Sir A. Smith. 



fj. Fine specimen. Madeira. Presented by the Zoological Society. 



h. Half-grown. Sicily. Presented by W. Swainson, Esq. 



