146 PEHCID^. 



ticiilations on the angle. Blackish brown ; tail and all the fins 

 yellow. 



Coast of Mozambique ; Isle de France ; Ceylon. 



a. Large specimen : stuiFed. Isle de France. 

 h. Adiilt : stuffed. Isle de France. 



c. Adult. Mauritius. Presented by the Zoological Society. 



d. Bad skin. Ceylon. Presented by Dr. Kelaart. 



e. Large specimen : not good state : has been in chloride of zinc. 



Sine patria. From the Haslar Collection. — Tail and root of the 

 caiidal fin black ; anal fin with ten soft rays. 



107. Serranus spiniger. (Plate X. fig. B.) 

 I). |i. A. i L. lat. 90. 



Caudalis truncated. The height of the body is 31 in the total 

 length, the length of the head 3i. Pra^operculum rounded, with 

 coarser denticulations at the angle. The second dorsal spine nearly 

 twice as long as any of the othej's. 

 a. Adult. Sine patria. Old Collection. 



Description. — The form of the body is compressed, oblong, its 

 greatest height comprised 3^ in the total length ; the length of the 

 head is 3^ in the same ; the upper sui-face of the head is roimded, 

 convex, entii'ely covered with minute scales, which extend on the 

 prajorbital, cheeks, aU the operclcs, the lower jaw, and on a part of 

 the maxillary. The diameter of the eye is 5^ in the length of the 

 head, lai'ger than the distance between the eyes, and two-thirds of 

 the extent of the snout. The two openings of the nostril are small, 

 round, equal, and near together. The cleft of the mouth is wide, the 

 upper maxillaiy bone reaching nearly to the posterior margin of the 

 orbit. The lower jaw is very prominent ; the hps thick and fleshy. 

 The praioperculum is rounded throiighout, finely serrated bcliind, and 

 with several coarse denticulations at the angle ; the sub- and inter- 

 operculum exhibit a fine serrature on a part of their inferior margin. 

 Operculum "nTith three conspicuous spines : the upper smallest and 

 shortest, nearly concealed by the scales ; the middle long and pro- 

 minent ; the lower of half the size ; the upper and middle spines 

 are rather nearer together than the lower and middle ones. 



The soft portion of the dorsalis is much higher, but shorter than 

 the spinous. The latter shows a peculiarity that is not found in 

 any of the other Sen-ani : the first and shortest spine is followed 

 by the second, which far exceeds the others, and even the rays, in 

 length and strength ; it is half as long as the body is high, and nearly 

 twice as long as the third ; all the following spines are nearly equal. 

 The upper margin of the soft portion is lounded, the midrlle rays 

 being rather longer than the others. The cauthdis appears truncated ; 

 but by stretching it out as far as possible, the posterior margin be- 

 comes slightly convex. The front part of the base of the anaJis is 

 protected by a thick encroachment of the scaly integument ; its soft 

 portion resembles that of the dorsal in height and form ; the spines 



