336 PRISTIPOM VfTD^:. 



more than the extent of the snout (perhaps in younger individuals 

 only). There are three pairs of minute pores near the symphysis of 

 the lower jaw. The scales above extend to between the nostrils, 

 laterally nearly over all the praeorbital. The scales of the cheek are 

 not much smaller than those of the opeiculum, and cover the praj- 

 operculum to its margin. The prajoperculum is distinctly and equally 

 serrated, and has the angle and the inferior limb rounded ; its pos- 

 terior limb descends in a slightly oblique direction forwards. The 

 operculum has iwo obtuse points with a slight notch between. Su- 

 prascapula serrated. 



The dorsal fin begins above the base of the pectoral, and the ver- 

 tical from its posteiior end falls nearer to the anal than to the 

 caudal ; the length of its spinous portion is rather longer than that 

 of the soft, and the distance from the caudal fin equals that between 

 the first and sixth dorsal spines. The upper margin is continuous 

 and slightly waved. The spines are of moderate strength, on one 

 side broader. The first spine is one-half the length of the second, 

 the second three-fifths of the third, the third rather shorter than the 

 next four^ which are the longest, and about 85 in the height of the 

 body. The posterior spines scarcely decrease in height, the last 

 being equal to the third. The first ray is rather longer than the 

 preceding spine, and the following gradually become higher to tlu^ 

 tenth, which forms the highest point of the fin — higher than the 

 spinous dorsal ; from thence they decrease again, forming a rounded 

 angle of the fin. The spinous portion moves in a scaly sheath, which 

 becomes deeper and more conspicuous from the fourth spine ; the 

 soft portion is covered with scales for half its height. 



The caudal fin is truncated ; one of its longest rays is one-fifth of 

 the total length. Minute scales extend between the rays to one-half 

 of the length of the fin. The origin of the anal fin falls vertically 

 below the sixth ray of the dorsal, and the end below the eleventh ; 

 the length of its base is one-half of the distance from the caudal. 

 The first spine is small ; the second strong, and equal to the longest 

 ray of the dorsal ; the third is rather shorter and more slender. The 

 first three rays exceed the spines in length, and form, with the other 

 shorter ones, a rounded margin. One-half of the fin is thickly covered 

 with scales. The pectoral is slightly rounded, and its length is one- 

 sixth of the total ; the ventral has the same length, and extends to 

 the vent. Its base falls immediately behind that of the pectoral. 

 The spine is moderate, about two-thirds of the length of the fin. 



The scales are small, ctenoid. The lateral line is slightly curved. 



The teeth of the jaws stand in villiform bands, the outer row con- 

 taining rather larger ones. 



To the description of the colours given above, must be added, that 

 the fins appear to be immaculate, and that the lower portion of the 

 side of the head is silvery shining. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 4 6 



Height of the body I r> 



Length of the head 1 2 



