FISHES AND FISHING. 321 



and larger than those within, both jaws paved inter 

 nally with two rows of round molars. Lateral line, 

 well marked. Head and back, aurora-red, mottled 

 with blue and gold, on a silvery ground. Sides of 

 the body crossed by five or six sky-blue broken lon 

 gitudinal stripes. Lower mandible and belly, white. 

 All fins faintly rose-red; apex of the tail/ orange. 

 Iris, purplish. Length, twelve to fourteen inches. 

 Dorsal,ii. Anal,f . Caudal, 11. Pectoral, 15.Ventral,i. 

 One of the best fishes in the market. Its flesh is 

 white and delicious. Superficially examined, it bears 

 some resemblance to the Cape silver-fish (dentex argy- 

 rozona), from which it is easily distinguished, not only 

 by its broader form, and less vivid hue ; but also, by 

 the absence of the six rose-red longitudinal bands, 

 and by the formation of its teeth. Caught with the 

 hook during winter, and pretty common on the 

 market. 



18. DENTEX RTJPESTBIS. Cuv. and Val. (Bastard 

 Sikerfish; seventy -four.} Body, large, bulky; teeth 

 of the outer row, large, cylindrical, curved and 

 pointed ; the four front ones of its jaws strongest. 

 Scales, large ; lateral line, broken. Back and sides, 

 above the lateral line, aurora-red, clouded by ultra 

 marine, blue, green, and faint purple, with an orange 

 tint towards the tail. Lower parts of the body, 



Y 



