PCECILOPSETTIN^ 



397 



Body ovate. Depth of body about twice in the length, length of head about 4. 

 Snout shorter than eye, diameter of which is nearly 4 in length of head ; eyes separated 

 by a low scaled ridge, its width less than i diameter of eye ; anterior margins of eyes 

 about level, the upper entering dorsal profile of head. A strong rostral spine over- 

 hanging the upper jaw of the ocular side in the male, and a similar but rather smaller 

 spine on blind side ; in the female the spine on the ocular side is represented by a small 

 prominence, and that of the blind side is absent. Maxillary extending nearly to below 

 middle of eye, length 2j to 2 J in that of head ; lower jaw about twice in head. Teeth 



Fig. 287. — Marleyella hicolorata 



irregularly biserial or in narrow bands, extending on to outer surface of upper jaw 

 on ocular side in the male. 12 gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. Scales 

 rather feebly ctenoid on ocular side, cycloid on blind side ; 70 to 75 in lateral line. 

 Dorsal 55-57 ; origin above middle of eye ; second to eighth rays greatly prolonged 

 in the male, highest nearly twice length of head ; second to fourth or fifth rays a 

 little longer than those which follow in the female. Anal 46-47. Pectoral of ocular 

 side with 11 rays (g or 10 branched), length i| to ij in that of head. Pelvics with 

 first three rays prolonged in both sexes, longest rays f ($) or about twice (,^) length 

 of head. Caudal obtusely pointed ; caudal peduncle short. Dark brownish, spotted 

 and blotched with black, the dark blotches tending to form irregular cross-bars ; 

 branchiostegal membranes azure blue below ; median fins with smaller and larger 

 black spots ; caudal with a dark vertical bar near its base ; pectoral and pelvic 

 spotted with darker ; blind side dark brown, with indistinct darker markings ; head 

 with small round black spots. 



