238 BUTTERFISH. 



gill-covers, narrow, even, joined to the border of the root of the 

 tail; anal from the vent to the root also of the tail; the last- 

 named fin round, Rays of the dorsal fin seventy-eight, of the 

 anal forty, the two first firm; pectoral fin moderate, round, 

 eleven or twelve rays; ventrals very small, the rays two; the 

 tail round. The general colour brownish yellow, sometimes 

 mottled; a dusky line from the eyes over the gills, and one 

 (more deeply marked) from the eye downward. A row of 

 dark, almost black spots along the back from near the beginning 

 of the dorsal fin to the root of the tail, each one bordered 

 with a ring of light colour. They stretch from the back, each 

 one over its own portion of the fin, and vary in number from 

 eight to twelve, the two or three nearest the tail more obscure; 

 anal fin with oblique pink bands or stripes; pectoral fins 

 commonly yellow. 



