204 PERCID^. 



2. Eleven dorsal spines. 



28. Mesoprion annularis. 



Mesoprion annularis, Cui\ Sf Val. ii. p. 484, iii. p. 497 ; Richardson, 

 Ichth. Chinn, p. 229; Meeker, Perc. p. 47; Cantor, Catal. p. 14. 



Diacope annularis, Riipp. At/. Fische, p. 74, and N. W. Fische, p. 91. 

 t. 24. f. 2 ; Quoy 8f Gaim. Voy. Astral. Puiss. p. 666. pi. 5. f. 4. 



metallicus, Bleek. Tupogr. Batav. 



Mesopriou sang-uineus, Bleek. Perc. p. 48. 



D-iiTv ^'h- L-lat. 56-60. 



The height of the body is 2|- in the total length, the length of the 

 head 3|- ; the diameter of the eye is one-foiu'th of the latter. Notch 

 and knob of the opercles indistinct, in young specimens more distinct. 

 Caudalis tnmcated ; pectoral reaching to tlie front end of the anal ; 

 the foiu'th, fifth, and sixth dorsal spines longest ; the second of the 

 anal lin much stronger than the third. Red : a blackish streak from 

 the first dorsal spine to the eye ; back of the tail with a black white- 

 edged spot ; streak and spot sometimes indistinct. 



Indian Ocean ; Red Sea ; Chinese and Japanese Seas. 



a. Adult : stuffed : not good state. China. Presentedby J. R. Reeves, 



Esq. 

 h, c. Adult and young. From the Haslar Collection. 



d. Adult. 



e. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 



/. Adult. Australian Seas. From Mr. Diing's Collection. 

 g. Half-grown. China. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. 

 h. Young. China. Presented by Captain Sir E. Belcher. 

 i. Young. From the Collection of the College of Surgeons. 

 Tc. Young. From the Haslar Collection. 



Specimens h. and i. have alternate blackish and lightei" longitu- 

 dinal bands below the lateral line. 



29. Mesoprion malabaricus. 



? Sparus malabaricus, Bl. Sclin. p. 278. 



? Mesoprion malabariciLS, Ctiv. i^ Val. ii. p. 480. 



Mesoprion malabaricus, Bleek. Sumatra, iii. p. 3. 



D. i^. A. |. L. lat. 52. 



The height of the body is not quite one-third of the total length, 

 and rather longer than the head ; the diameter of the eye is one- 

 third of the length of the head ; the upper profile of the head 

 slightly concave. Jaws nearly equal in front ; the upper maxillary 

 bone reaches beyond the anterior half of the eye. Prceoperculum 

 serrated and slightly cmarginate, ^\'ith stronger denticulations at the 

 angle. Caudalis tnmcated; the foiu'tli, fifth, and sixth dorsal 

 spines rather longer than the posterior ones ; the second of the anal 

 longest and strongest. Rose-coloured (in life), with oblique streaks 

 above the lateral line and mth longitiulinal ones beneath ; a violet 

 longitudinal band on the back along the base of the dorsal fin ; a 



