20 ELLECK. 



The Ellcck is usually about a foot in length, but has been 

 known to measure eighteen inches. The head is high, narrow 

 on the summit, with a depression between the eyes, which, 

 therefore, are close together; sloping thence to the snout, which 

 is cut in on the front, and slightly divided, projecting over the 

 mouth; teeth small and rather numerous. The body irregularly 

 round, narrower on the back, and more slender towards the 

 tail. Above each eye an obscure row of spines; behind the 

 head a rough spme, another on the hinder gill-cover, and a 

 third above the origin of the pectoral fin; a line of low 

 tubercles runs along the sides of the root of the rays of the 

 dorsal fin; the lateral line rough from a series of obscure 

 l^lates. The first dorsal fin with spinous rays, the first shorter 

 than the second, and having a rough front. Pectorals scarcely 

 reaching to the vent. Tail straight, except that sometimes 

 the outer ray above and below is longest. The head, back, 

 and sides, with the dorsal and caudal fins are a bright red, 

 sometimes darker and sometimes dusky on the back, with 

 occasionally a few golden spots. Pectorals, ventrals, and finger 

 processes a paler red, tinged with yellow; anal wliitish, tinged 

 with red. Iris golden or orange yellow, with a circle of red 

 or crimson. 



An example of unusual size came under my inspection, that 

 was so stout as to be thicker through its body than deep; the 

 colours bright, v/ith the back, head, and sides covered thickly 

 with golden spots about the size of a large j^ea. 



Fin rays — first dorsal nine, second dorsal eighteen, pectoral 

 ten, (bifid,) ventral six, anal seventeen, caudal fan-shaped. 

 The two last rays of the second dorsal and anal in some 

 examples spring from one root. 



