37. MESOPEION. 207 



brownish streaks; a brownish spot on the back of the tail; fins 

 yellow. 



Sea of Amboyna. Madras. 



a. Half-grown : not good state. Madras. Presented by J. C. 

 Jerdon, Esq. 



36. Mesoprion aurorubens. 



Centropristes aurorubens, Ctiv. ^ Val. iii. p. 45. 



D. ^. A. |. L. lat. 54. L. transv. 8/19. Csec. pylor. 4. 

 Vert. 10/14. 

 Vomerine teeth lq a broad quadrangidar patch, with the anterior 

 sides shortest \())- Praeopercnlum with a very indistinct notch, 

 more conspicuous in young individuals. Dorsal fin even, caudal fin 

 notched ; the third anal spine longest. Coloration uniform. 

 Atlantic coasts of Tropical America. 



a, b. Adult : skins. Jamaica. From Dr. Pamell's Collection, 

 c. Half-grown : skin. Jamaica. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. 



This fish has been placed in the genus Centropristls, but it is 

 much nearer to Mesoprion, with which it agrees in the structure of 

 the pra^opercidum ; it may, however, be the type of a peculiar genus 

 distinguished by an arrangement of the vomerine teeth which is 

 scarcely to be found in other species of Mesoprion, and an increased 

 number of dorsal spines. The canines are very small. 



B. With a more or less broad, distinct, blackish Isdereiiband. 

 37. Mesoprion vitta. 



Serranus vitta, Quo^ ^ Gcmn. Voy. de Freyc. Zool. Poiss. pi. 58. f. 3. 



p. 315 ; Hichafdson, Ichth. China, p. 234. 

 ? Serranus vitta, Cuv. iSf Val. ii. p. 239, vi. p, 505. 

 Diacope vitta, Schley. Sf Temm. Faun. Japan, p. 13. pi. 6. f. 1. 

 ? Mesoprion vitta, JBleeker, Perc. p. 44. 

 Mesoprion phaiotseniatus, Bieeker, Perc. p. 43. 



The height of the body is 3| in the total length, and nearly equal 

 to the length of the head ; the cUameter of the eye is one-fourth of 

 the latter ; the upper profile of the head is veiy slightly concave ; 

 notch of pra3operculum and knob of interoperculum conspicuous. 

 Jaws nearly equal in front ; the upper maxillary bone reaches not 

 quite 'to below the middle of the eye. CaudaHs truncated or very 

 slightly eraargitiate ; pectoral not reaching to the front end of the anal ; 

 the dorsal spiiies are rather slender, the third and fourth longest \ 

 the second and third of the anal fin are nearly equal in length, the 

 second stronger. Olive (in spirits), with conspicuous oblique streaks 

 above the lateral line and with longitudinal ones beneath ; a broadefr 

 blackish band from the eye to the back of the caudal fin ; dorsal and 



