196 PERCID^. 



terior margin, of the eye. The cheek is scaly ; there are seven rows 

 of scales between the eye and the lower limb of the pra^operciilum, 

 the row nearest the eye being formed by very large scales, as in most 

 of these fishes. The posterior Umb of the pra;opercidum is exceedingly 

 finely serrated, and has a slight notch above the angle ; the denticn- 

 lations of the angle are stronger. The operculum is triangular, its 

 width being Ig^ in its height ; it has posteriorly two short and veiy 

 obtuse lobes, separated from each other by a notch ; the lower is the 

 more prominent. 



The base of the vertical fins is covered with smaU scales. The 

 origin of the dorsal fin corresponds to the vertical from the 4th scale 

 of the lateral line, the end to that of the 35th, the origin of the soft 

 portion to that of the 22nd. The upper margins of both portions are 

 convex, separated by a notch. The spines are of moderate strength, 

 and, as in many other AcantlioptenjyU , alternately stronger and 

 more feeble* ; the fourth is the longest, 2^ in the length of the head ; 

 the last spine is much shorter than the first ray. Among the rays, 

 the eighth and ninth are longest — rather longer than one-half the 

 length of the head. The caudalis is slightly emarginate. The anal 

 spines are moderately strong ; the second is rather longer, but not 

 stronger than the third ; the soft portion is much more elevated, and 

 has a rounded margin, the fourth ray being longest, and equal in 

 height to the ninth dorsal ray : the origin of the fin corresponds to the 

 vertical from the 25th scale of the lateral line, the end to that from 

 the 33rd. The pectoral and ventral fins are equal in length, the 

 fonner extending backwards to the vent only, the latter nearly to 

 the origin of the anal. 



The scales are of moderate size ; one of the largest, taken from the 

 side, below the lateral line, covers nearly one-half the eye. 



In both jaws there are larger teeth in the external row of the vilU- 

 form bands ; the upper jaw is armed ^nth one pair of canines, of mo- 

 derate size ; no canines in the lower jaw. The vomeiine teeth fonn 

 abroad triangidar patch, with a produced anterior angle. The pala- 

 tine teeth in cuneiform bands. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 5 5 



Height of the body 1 8 



Length of the head 1 8 



Diameter of the eye 4A- 



Length of the fourth dorsal spine 7|- 



of the ninth dorsal ray 10 



of the second anal spine 6^ 



of the fourth anal ray 10 



of the pectoral . 1 1 



There are four other specimens in the Collection of the British 



* In fact, the spines are always equally strong, encli being oh one side broader 

 and on the other narrower; so that, if viewed from the left side, the third, fifth, 

 seventh, &c., appear to be broadest ; if viewed from the right, the fourth, sixth, 

 eighth, &c. 



