186 PEKCIDJE. 



B. With a more or less broad, distinct, blackish lateral band. 



37. M. vitta, 38. M. bleekeri, 39. M. enneacanthus. 



C. With permanent blackish cross-bands. 



40. M. semicinctus. 



D. With several distinct longitudinal bands. 



41. M. quinquelineatus, 42. M. sobra, 43. M. decussatus. 



II. Species with anomalously amied prfeoperculimi. 



44. M. retrospinis, 45. M. pomacanthus. 



I. Praeoperculum moderately or finely denticulated. 



A. Coloration imiform, or with indistinct oblique and longitudinal streaks. 



1. Ten dorsal spines. 



a. Without a large black lateral blotch. 



a. Caudal fin deeply forked. 



1. Mesoprion microchir. 

 Sleeker, Amhoyna, iv. p. 332. 



D-i^- A. A L.lat.50. 



The height of the body is 5i in the total length, the length of the 

 head four times ; the diameter of the eye is 3^ ia the latter ; the 

 upper profile of the head convex. The lower jaw rather prominent, 

 the upper maxillary bone reaching to below the anterior half of the 

 eye. Pracoperculum not notched. Caudalis deeply forked ; the 

 dorsal spines slender, the middle ones nearly equal in length, higher 

 than the rays ; the third anal spine longest. Yellowish olive ; the 

 dorsal fin brown-spotted at the base, and above brown-edged, the 

 other fins immaculate. {Bl.') 



Sea of Amboyna. 



2. Mesoprion chrysurus. 



Rabirubbia, Parra, pi. 22. f. 1. 



Colas, Duhamel, Peckes, iv. cap. 5. p. 64. pi. 12. f. 1. 



Acara pitamba, Margr. p. 155. 



Sparus chrysurus, Bl. i. 262 ; Lacep. iv. p. 115. 



Grammistes chrysurus, Bh Sckn. p. 187. 



Anthias rabirubbia, BL Schn. p. 309. 



Spams semilima, Lacep. iv. pp. 141, 142. pi. 3. f. 1. 



Mesoprion chrysurus, Cuv. i^- Vah ii. p. 459 ; Guichen. Poiss. in Ramon 



de la Sagra, Hist. Cuba, p. 24. 

 aurovittatus, Spix, Fische Brasil. pi. 66. 



D. i5. A.|. L. lat. 55-60. L. transv. 9/18. Vert. 10/14. 



The height of the body is equal to the length of the head, and 

 one-fourth of the total. Caudalis deeply forked, with the upper 

 lobe longest ; pectorals reaching to the origin of the anal. Prae- 



