26. SERRANtrs. 143 



of the operculum are rather indistinct, especially the upper and 

 lower ; the former is more distant from the middle one. 



The spinous portion of the dorsalis is longer and not much lower 

 than the soft. All the spines are of moderate length and strength : 

 the first is not quite half as long as the second, the fourth longest ; 

 the posterior ones gradually become shorter, the last being about 

 five-sixths of the fourth. The membrane between the spines is 

 moderately notched, without emitting appendages. The soft portion 

 has a. sHghtly rounded upper margin, the tenth ray being about one- 

 tenth longer than the longest spine. AH the fin is nearly free, like 

 the others, and not protected by an encroachment of the integument. 

 Caudalis truncated. The soft part of the analis is rather higher 

 than the dorsal, and rounded ; the second spme is not much stronger, 

 and rather shorter, than the third. The pectoralis is rounded, and 

 composed of eighteen rays ; it is a little shorter than the ventral. The 

 ventralis is supported by a spine of more than half the length of the 

 fir., and does not reach the vent ; its root falls vertically beneath 

 that of the pectoral. 



The canine teeth are small, and there is a small, conspicuous 

 canine tooth on each side of the vomer. The scales are very small. 



The ground-colour is now brownish olive, lighter on the belly ; the 

 head and body are covered with brown specks, of the size of a scale, 

 and extending on the base of the soft portions of the dorsal and anal 

 fins ; these and the caudal fin have a broad black margin. The ven- 

 trals are nearly entirely brownish black, the colour becoming deeper 

 on the hinder margin. The pectorals are not coloured. 



Length of the specimen 6" 



105. Serranus rupestris. 



Cuv.^ Val ix. p. 437. 



D.|i. A.^. Caec. pylor. 17. 



Caudalis truncated. Praeoperculum fijiely serrated, slightly emar- 

 ginate above the angle. Dirty yellowish, with large, rounded, un- 

 equal spots of red colour on the back, on the base of the dorsal fin, 

 and on the ventrals, and of violet colour on the sides and on the head ; 

 pectoral fins with a broad yellow margin ; the vertical fins with a 

 narrow black and white edge. {Val.) 



St. Domingo. 



106. Serranus flavo-csBruleua. 



Holocentrus flavo-cseruleus, Lacep. iv. p. 366. 



gynmosus, LacSp. iii.»pl. 27. f. 2, iv. p. 372. 



Bodianus macrocephalus, Lac^i. iii. pi. 20. f. 2, iv. pp. 293, 295. 

 Serranus borbonicus, Qtioy ^ Gnim. Voy. Freyc. Poiss. pi. 57. f. 2. 



r flavo-caeruleus, Cuv. 8f Val. ii. p. 297 ; Bennett, Fishes of Ceylon, 



pi. l^; Peters, Wiegni. Arch. 1855, p. 236. 



16-17' 8 (10)' 



Caudalis slightly emarginate. Praeoperculum with stronger den- 



