— 62 — 



nal lines on the neck and dorsal fin. The black and 

 white spots are formed by the vertical bands which 

 gradually disappear with age, on the anterior portion 

 of the body. 



Monacanthus rubricauda. 



D. 2/31-1. A. 27. 



Body covered with small spiny scales, modified 

 into long hooked bristles on the side of the tail. Body 

 oblong, its depth between the soft dorsal and vent is 

 contained 3 times in the total ; the head 4 times in the 

 same length ; snout produced, three eye-diameters in 

 length ; upper profile concave ; eye contained 4 times 

 in the length of the head ; gill opening below the hind 

 margin of the orbit. Dorsal spine compressed anter 9- 

 posteriorly and situated over the middle of the orbit, 

 on each outer edge of this spine, is a single row of 

 stout spines curving downwards and outwards ; the 

 front face shows several rows of very fine barbs in- 

 creasing in size upwards, the posterior face smooth. 

 Second dorsal and anal fins equal in height, and one 

 third the height of the body (measured between the 

 second dorsal vent.) Pectorals situated hardly behind 

 a vertical from the posterior margin orbit. Caudal 

 fin rounded posteriorly, ventral spine small, rough, 

 moveable, with five or six large barbs ; free from the 

 ventral flap. The body in life is of a uniform dark or 

 greenish brown. Dorsal and anal fins yellow, crossed 

 by from 8 to 12 longitudinal stripes ; caudal deep red 



