^ 37, MKsorHioN. 207 



brovroish streaks ; ii brownish spot on the back of the tail ; fins 

 yellow. 



Sea of Amboyna. Madras. 



a. Half-grown : not good state. Madras. Presented by J. C. 

 Jerdon, Esq. 



k36. Mesoprion aurorubens. 

 Centropristes aurorubens, Cuv. ^ Val. iii. p. 45. 

 D. {^. A.|. L. lat. 54. L. transv. 8/19. Csc. j^ylor. 4. 

 Yert. 10/14. 

 Vomerine teeth in a broad quadivangnlar patch, with the anterior 

 sides shortest ( () )• Prteoperciilum with a very indistinct notch, 

 more conspicuous in young individuals. Dorsal fin even, caudal fin 

 notched ; the tliii'd anal spine longest. Coloration uniform. 

 Atlantic coasts of Tropical America. 



a, h. Adidt : skins. Jamaica. From Dr. PameU's Collection. 

 c. Half-grown : skin. Jamaica. Purchased of Mr. Ciuning. 



This fish has been placed in the genus Centropristis, but it is 

 much nearer to Mesoprion, with which it agrees in the stracture of 

 the prsopercidum ; it may, however, be the t>'pe of a pccidiar genus 

 distinguished by an arrangement of the vomeiine teeth which is 

 scai-coly to be foiuid in other species of Mesoprion, and an increased 

 number of dorsal spines. The canines are veiy small. 



B. With a n]ore or less broad, distinct, blackish lateral band. 

 37. Mesoprion vitta. 



Sen-anus vitta, Quoij S,- Gaim. Voy. de Freijc. Zool. Poiss. pi. 58. f. 3. 



p. 315; Richardson, IcJith. China, p. 234. 

 ? Sen-anus vitta, Cuv. ^ Val. ii. p. 239, vi. p. 505. 

 Diacope vitta, Schler/. 8f Tcmm. Faun. Japan, p. 13. pi. G. f. 1. 

 ? Mesoprion vitta, Blvvher, Perc. p. 44. 

 Mesoprion phaiotajniatus, Blecker, Perc. p. 43. 



D-I^,- A.|. L. lat. 55-62. 



The height of the body is 34 in the total length, and nearly equal 

 to the length of the head ; the diameter of the eye is onc-foiu-th of 

 the latter ; the upper profile of the head is very slightly concave ; 

 notch of pra^opereulum and knob of interopercidum conspicuous. 

 Jaws nearly equal in front ; the upper maxillary bone reaches not 

 quite to below the middle of the eye. Caudalis truncated or very 

 slightly emarginate ; pectoral not reaching to the front end of the anal ; 

 the dorsal spines are rather slender, the third and fom-th longest ; 

 the second and third of the anal fin arc nearly equal in length, the 

 second stronger. Olive (in spu-its), with conspicuous oblicjue streaks 

 above the lateral line and with longitudinal ones beneath ; a broader 

 blackish band from the eye to the back of the caudal fin ; dorsal and 



