447 



somewhat the highest ; pectoral large, as long as the head, and 

 longer than the ventral ; second anal spine strongest, and about 

 as long as the third, which slightly exceeds the second of the 

 dorsal fin ; caudal fan-shaped. Scales ctenoid. Colour reddish 

 brown, covered with large brown spots the marks on the body 

 larger than on the head, and usually hexagonal ; pectoral with a 

 dark semilunar mark over its base, divided by a light band from 

 the dark grey of the rest of the fin, which, as well as the ventral 

 and anal, has a black margin. 



Hob. Seas of India, the Malay Archipelago, and China. 



565. (6.) Serranus hexagonatns. 



Perca hexagonata, Bl. Sckn. Si/st. Ich. p. 323. 



Serranus hexagonatus, Day, Fish. India, pp. 14, 746, pi. ii, fig. 3 

 (see synon.). 



Naambu, Bel. ; Pulli-ctellawah, " Spotted Perch," Tarn. 

 D. 11/15-1 7. P. 16. A. 3/8. L.r. 110/95. L.tr. 13/36. Cjec.pyl.32. 



Length of head from 3| to 3|, height of body 3| to 4 in the 

 total length. Eyes diameter 4 to 4| in length of head, 1 to 1| 

 from end of snout, and 3 to 1 apart. Vertical limb of preopercle 

 finely serrated in its upper two thirds, more coarsely so in its 

 lower third, especially at its angle. Fins dorsal spines of mode- 

 rate strength, the fourth the longest ; second anal spine strongest 

 and slightly the longest ; caudal obtusely rounded. Scales ctenoid. 

 Colour reddish brown with a light reticulation, causing the body, 

 and also the pectoral, soft dorsal, and caudal fins, to be covered 

 with hexagonal or sometimes rounded markings. In some spe- 

 cimens the dark blotches become more confluent, the light 

 reticulations being indistinct. 



Hob. Ked Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India, Malay Archi- 

 pelago to the Pacific. 



566. (7.) Serranus maculatns. 



Holocentrus maculatns, Bl. Ich. t. 242, fig. 3 (young). 



Serranus maculatus, Day, Fish. India, p. 14, pi. ii, fig. 4 (see synon.). 



B.vii. D. 11/17-18. P. 18. A. 3/8. C.17.L. r. 106/95. L.tr. 20/45. 

 Length of head 3^ to 3, height of body nearly 4 in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter from 4\ to 5 in length of head, rather 

 above 1 from end of snout, and 1 apart. Preopercle rounded, with 

 its vertical border strongly serrated, its angle produced, and with 

 about eight coarse denticnlations. Fins dorsal spines moderate ; 

 the third is half the length of the head, and one half longer than 

 the rays ; the last is nearly as long as the rays ; second anal spine 

 strongest, but not so long as the third ; caudal cut square but with 

 rounded angles. Scales ctenoid. Colour deep grey, with round, 

 somewhat distant black spots on the head, pectoral, and ventral 

 fins ; oval vertical spots on the anterior half of the body, becoming 

 short thick sinuous lines on the last half ; the spinous dorsal 



