438 SPARID^. 



differs in tlie number of the fins, that I considered it as tlie type of 

 a new species for a long while, to which I intended to give the name 

 of Scuyus auricidaris ; but having this single specimen only, I pre- 

 fer to give a full description of it, as after all it may prove to be 

 merely an accidental variety. 



q. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 



D. {|. A. ^. L. lat. 56. L. transv. 6/14. 



Description of tlie specimen. — The body is rather elevated, its 

 greatest depth, below the fifth dorsal spine, being 2A in the total 

 length. The profile of the nape forms a not very strong curve, and 

 is continued into that of the head, which descends to the snout in a 

 straight line ; the distance between the occiput and the end of the 

 snout equals that between the occiput and the origin of the dorsal 

 fin. The head is compressed, and forms one-foiu'th of the total length ; 

 the distance between the ej-es is one-third of the length of the head. 

 The snout is rather pointed and of moderate length, the upper 

 maxUlary reaching nearly to the vertical from the anterior margin of 

 the orbit. The praorbital is 1| as long as high, and covers entirely 

 the maxillary bone. The eye is of moderate size, and situated 

 much nearer to the iipper vertical than to the inferior limb of the 

 prseopcrculum. The nostrils are placed near the upper angle of the 

 orbit ; the posteiior is an elongate slit, the anterior is round. There 

 are four series of scales between the praeorbital and the limb of the 

 prseopcrculum, which also is partly covered with a single series of 

 deciduous scales. The posterior margin of the praeoperculum descends 

 forwards in a straight and slightly oblique line ; the angle is rounded ; 

 the inferior margin straight and obUque. The operculum has no 

 distinct spine, and is covered with scales, like the sub- and inter- 

 operculum. The suprascapula is scale-like, v^athout strite or den- 

 ticulations ; but there is a curved series of scales, ascending from the 

 suprascapula to the nape, which exhibit very distinct striae. 



The dorsal fin begins above the root of the ventrals and extends 

 to the vertical from the forty-first scale of the lateral line, its 

 distance from the caudal fin being 2^ in the length of the head. The 

 .spines are rather strong, compressed, and broader on one side ; the 

 fij-st is one-half the length of the second ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 are longest, and 2| in the length of the head ; the following gradually 

 ' decrease in length to the last, which is 3|- in the length of the head. 

 The soft rays are nearly equal in length to one another and to the 

 last spine. The caudal fin is forked, one of the middle rays being 

 nearly one-tliird the length of the upper lobe, which is rather longer 

 than the lower. The origin of the anal fin falls vertically below the 

 end of the s2:)iuous dorsal, and its end immediately behind that of the 

 soft dorsal ; it is rather higher than the opposite fin, the posterior 

 rays, however, gradually becoming shorter. The spines are rather 

 stout ; the first is two-fifths the length of the second, the second 

 slightly exceeds the third, and is one-third of the length of the head. 

 The sixth pectoral ray is longest, reaching to the origin of the soft 



