238 REPORT—1845. 
36. Chinese name, Za yen lap, “ Large-eyed lap” (Reeves); Tai gans 
lap (Bridgem. Chrest. 129). Rad. D. 9 vel 10/12; A. 3|12 vel 13; C. 
164; P.19. ; 
There is some difficulty in discovering ready characters by which the Priacanthi may be 
distinguished from one another. In the published descriptions much stress has been laid on 
the form and size of the angular projection of the preoperculum, but this varies greatly on 
different sides of the same individual, and in the ‘ Fauna Japonica’ it is stated that there is a 
variation in this part as well as in the relative size of the fins, depending on the age of the 
individual. ‘The fish at present under consideration may perhaps eventually prove to belong 
to the preceding species, should the elongation of the tips of the caudal and peak of the dorsal 
be discovered to be merely a sexual peculiarity or the more perfect state of the fish. One 
specimen exists in the museum of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, to which it was pre 
sented by the Rev. George Vachell, and another in the British Museum, received from John 
Reeves, Esq., both obtained at Canton. 
Eye fully as large as in boops, interfering a little with the profile, and not much above half 
a diameter from the end of the snout. Height of body equal to one-fourth of the total length; 
suborbitar chain presenting small knobs round the margin of the orbit, crenated on the lower 
edge; preorbitar narrow and toothed. In both specimens the preopéfcular spine is long, 
tapering, and acute on one side and comparatively short on the other, and its serratures are not 
uniform ; the operculum has a very small spinous point, which is the tip of a shortridge; the 
fourth soft ray of the dorsal is lengthened into a short filiform tip, the posterior corner of the 
fin being rounded ; the anal is much rounded and about half the height of the body ; caudal 
forked, with the tips acute and lengthened, particularly the upper one in Mr. Reeves’s spe- 
cimen ; but in Mr. Vachell’s, the upper tip only isa little larger than the rest of the fin, and is 
nearly straight on the edge; pectoral considerably smaller than in benmebari, and rounded; 
ventrals large ; the scales silvery and bright. In the figure a bright carmine colour runs along 
the base of the dorsal, and gradually fades away as it descends the sides, which are silvery; 
the same is the case on the head; a faint roseate tint spreads over the dorsal, the edge being 
deeper; the anal and ventrals are pale blue, the latter being rose-coloured towards the edges, 
and marked by about eight rows of brown spots, with two larger round ones in the membrane 
which connects the last ray with the belly as far as the anus; the pectorals and caudal are 
siskin-green and rose-coloured. One specimen 44 inches, the other 94 inches. 
The Priacanthus speculum of the Seychelle islands is stated in the ‘ Histoire des Poissons’ 
(vii. p. 471) to be readily distinguished from other species by its forked caudal. We are 
prevented from considering it as identical with the Chinese fish, by the eye being a full dia- 
meter of the orbit from the edge of the snout, the extreme smallness of the preopercular 
point, and the absence of the round spots on the pectoral. In the latter character dayenus 
agrees more nearly though not perfectly with benmebari. In the angular or pointed dorsal 
it resembles japonicus. 
Hab. Chinese sea. Canton. 
PRIACANTHUs DuBIUs, Temm. et Schl. F. J. Sieb. p. 19. 
Hab. Sea of Japan. 
PrRiACANTHUS JAPONICUS, C. et V. iii. p. 106. pl. 50; Temm. et Schl. F. J. 
Sieb. p. 20. 
Hab. Japanese sea. 
PRIACANTHUS NIPHONIUS, C. et V. iii. p. 107; Temm. et Schl. F. J. Sieb. 
p-21. Rad. D. 10|12; A. 3|10; &c. (Biirger’s spec.) 
One of Biirger’s specimens is in the British Museum. Scales much rougher than those of 
benmebari. In the roughness and general character of the scales Priacanthus approaches to 
the Myripristide. 
THERAPON THERAPS, C. et V. iii. p. 129. et vii. p. 475. pl. 53; Richardson, 
Ann. Nat. Hist. ix. p. 126. Pterapon trivittatus, Gray, Hardw. Ill. ; Zeon. 
Reeves, a. 43; Hardw. Acanth. 49. Chinese name, Ketseé tsze (Birch) ; 
Kin sih (Reeves); Aborigines of Port Essington, At a goorn (Gilbert). 
Hab. Seychelles, Indian ocean, Torres Straits, Javan and Chinese seas. 
THERAFON SERVUS, Bloch ( Holocentrus), 238 ; C. et V. iii. p.125; Richard. 
Ann. Nat. Hist. ix. p.126. Grammistes servus, Bl. Schn. p.185. Sciena 
