2ti. SEREANUS. 113 



of the dorsal fin, and 3^ in the total length. Taking the distance 

 between the dorsal and caudal fins = 1, it is contained 3| in the length 

 of the base of the dorsal, and equal to one-tliird of the distance be- 

 tween dorsal and snout, and rather smaller than the base of the anal 

 fin. The length of the head is contained 31 in the total ; the di- 

 stance between the eyes is much smaller than their diameter, covered 

 with small scales, which extend beyond the nostiils on the prajor- 

 bital. The length of the snout from the eye is rather more than 

 the diameter of the eye ; the cleft of mouth moderately oblique ; the 

 upjjer maxillary bone naked, not reaching to the level of the posterior 

 margin of the eye ; the mandibulaiy is covered with minute scales, 

 and longer than the half of the length of the head. The posterior 

 limb of the prajopercidum is convex, minutely serrated, the denticu- 

 lations at the angle being scarcely larger ; the lower limb is entire, 

 like the sub- and interoperculum. The operculum terminates in 

 thi'ee conspicuous, flat, short, triangular teeth, the middle of which 

 is the longest, but not veiy prominent ; the upper one is rather more 

 distant than the lower. The suprascapular bone is concealed by the 

 ordinaiy scales. 



The base of the dorsalis is protected by an encroachment of the 

 scaly integument, and a tapering row of scales runs up between each 

 pair of spines or rays for two-thirds of the height of the fin. The 

 spinous part is lower than the soft, and the membrane between the 

 spines is deeply notched, but without fringed appendages ; the first 

 spine is half the size of the second, the second two-thirds of the 

 third, and the fourth to ninth spines are nearly equal in length, the 

 last being rather shorter ; all the spines are strong, and the strongest 

 is equal in length to the distance between the dorsal and caudal fins. 

 The soft portion of the dorsal fin is quadrangular, with a straight upper 

 margin ; the first ray is one-foiuth longer than the last spine, all the 

 following being equal, except the last three, which again diminish in 

 length. The caudalis is rounded throughout, narrow bands of small 

 scales running between the rays to two-thirds of the length of the fin. 

 The amilis commences a Httle behind the commencement of the soft 

 portion of the dorsal ; the first spine is strong, but short ; the second 

 vorj- strong, and nearly equal in length to the dorsal spines, which it 

 much exceeds in strength ; the third is more slender and rather 

 shorter. The posterior angle of the fin is roimded, the rays becoming 

 gradually longer to the fifth, and diminisliing again from the eighth. 

 The 2^ectora1 is is composed of sixteen rays, rounded, as long as the 

 ventral, and covered with thin scales to one-thu-d of the length only. 

 The ventralis reaches just to the vent, has the spine of the same length 

 as the second dorsal, and the second ray rather longer than the first. 



The ground-colour is brown, lighter on the belly ; seven darker 

 indistinct bands reach to the belly, and are broader than the lighter 

 intervals between. The pale spots are most distinct on the jirar^or- 

 bital and maxillary bones, on the anal and ventral fins, and on the 

 inner side of the root of the pectoral : the pectoral itself is immacu- 

 late and of a bro\vnisli-grey colour. The dentition is as usual. 



The specimen is five inclies long. 



I 



