27. PLECTROPOMA. 159 



the lower limb ; the lower limb and the angle fonn one contumous 

 curve. The operculum has two very prominent spines, the lower of 

 which is smaller. 



The ilorsal Jin is rather low, with a notch before the soft portion ; 

 the scales of the body are continued on the lower half of this fin and 

 of the others, and it is difficult to distinguish the real base of the fin. 

 The first spine is above the base of the longest spine of the opcr- 

 culvmi, and equals in length the last spine ; the second is twice as 

 long as the first ; the fourth is tlie longest, and 3-i- in the greatest 

 depth of the body. The membrane between the spines appears to 

 be deeply notched. Tlie length of the base of the soft portion is 

 one-third shorter than that of the spinous, and has the upper margin 

 slightly convex ; it is rather lower than the spinous, begins above 

 the origin of the anal, and terminates so near the caudal, that the 

 distance between these two this is rather less than one-fourth of the 

 depth of the body. The caudal fin is slightly roimded, and one- 

 seventh only of the total length. The first spine of the amd fin is 

 short, one-half the length of tlie second ; the second is vciy thick, 

 but shorter than the fii-st ray, one-third of the depth of the body ; 

 the third spine is slender, and shorter than the preceding ; the soft 

 portion is slightly rounded, and its distance from the caudal is one- 

 third of the depth of the body. The pectoral is well developed ; its 

 base is entirely hidden by scales ; it is rounded, and extends to the 

 level of the vent, its length being 4i in the total. The ventrals are 

 much shorter than the pectorals, rather more than one-half; they 

 are inserted a little before the pectorals, and their spine is three- 

 fifths of their entire length. 



The scales are of moderate size, finely ctenoid ; those above the pec- 

 toral are lai'gest, not much longer than high, and one coveiing about 

 one-foiu'th of the eye. The lateral line runs in the upper third of 

 the height of the body, and follows exactly the curve of the back. 



The teeth are in villiform bands, with a pair of strong canines in 

 both jaws ; there is another canine tooth in tlie middle of the side 

 of the lower jaw. The vomerine teeth are in a narrow band, rect- 

 angularly bent ; the palatine teeth in a band not broader than that 

 of the vomer. 



The ground-colour is now piu'e yellowish, and has been probably 

 red or rose-coloured. The bands are deep black : two (on each side) 

 descend from the nape to the sides of the head ; the anterior from the 

 middle of the distance between the dorsal and the eyes to the upper 

 posterior angle of the orbit ; the other from the origin of the dorsal 

 over the suprascapula to the middle of the hinder margin of the 

 orbit ; there is a black spot besides between the eyes ; a third band, 

 incomplete, on the operculum. The other bands are broader and 

 vertical, and the first four extend on the dorsal fin : the first from 

 between the third and fifth dorsal spines to behind the liase of tlie 

 pectoral ; the second from between the seventh and ninth doi'snl 

 spines to the middle of the belly ; the third from between the fourth 

 and sixth dorsal rays to the anal spines ; the fourth, rather cuiTed, 

 from between the twelfth and fourteenth dorsal rays to the end of 



