8. HOLtjCENTRrM. 45 



The description given of the operdes of H. rubrum mnj^ be applied 

 also to tliis species ; but the serrature and the spines arc rather 

 stronger; the suboperculum moreover is indistinctly denticulated 

 above the pra^operciilar spine only ; this spine is very long, its length 

 being 1|- in that of the posterior edge of the praeoperculum. 



The vestibular opening is small, only twice as large as the posterior 

 nostril : if there is a bony plate in connexion with the tjTnpanum 

 (cir.Myripristis adustus, p. 23), it must be exceedingly thin and small. 



The suprascapida is distinctly serrated, but neither the humeral 

 nor the coracoid. The urohyal is irregularly three-sided, with one 

 anterior and two posterior angles ; the lower and upper sides are 

 convex, the hinder concave ; the lower angle of the two posterior 

 ones reaches further behind than the upper. The pubic bones as in 

 H. irubrura. 



There are eleven abdominal and sixteen caudal vertehrce, the 

 length of the abdominal part of the vertebral column being 1^ in 

 that (Jf the caudal. The haemal spines are not stronger than the 

 neural. Nine ribs ; the first to seventh ribs have epiplcural spines, 

 and similar appendages are inserted on the anterior and posterior 

 vertebree. The form of the ribs of the eleventh vertebra and that 

 of the tirst interhaemal spme is similar to those of U. rubrum, but 

 the length of the latter equals that of the nrst eight vertebrae only. 



20. Hokcentrum comutum. 



Bleeker, t'eram, iii. p. 240. 



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

 3|— 3|^ in the total. A spine directed outwards, in the inferior and 

 anterior angle of the orbit. The maxillary bone does not reach to 

 the middle of the eye ; the praeopercular spine not much shorter than 

 the diameter of the eye ; the upper opercular spine longest ; scapular 

 bone much serrated. The third to sixth dorsal spine longest, and 

 nearly equal to the soft dorsal ; the third anal spine much longer. 

 Rose-coloured, with nine darker longitudinal bands, one of them 

 terminating in a black caudal spot ; the membrane of the spinous 

 dorsal black, with red spots ; the other fins red • the anal fin between 

 the third spine and first ray, and the caudal on the outer edges, 

 dark violet. {Bl.) 



Rivers of Ceram ; Sea of Amboyna. 



21. Holoceutnun tiere. 



Cuv. 8f Val iii. p. 202 ; Voy. Coq. ii. p. 221, Poiss. pi. 25. £ 1 (not 

 good). 



D. 12 I 14. A.-l. 



Operculum with two prominent spines, equal in length; the 

 spinous dorsal low ; none of the other vertical fins elongate ; lobes of 

 the caudal equal in length. Uniform red. 



Sea of Otaheiti. 



