452 TELEOSTEI. ACANTlIOPTEltYOII. 



Length of head from 3f to 3|, height of body 3^ to over 4 in 

 total length. Eyes diameter from 4^ to 5 in length of head, and 

 from | to 1 apart. Vertical edge of the preopercle serrated. Fins 

 dorsal spines increase to the third or fourth, which are about 

 f the height of the body, and i lower than the rays ; second anal 

 spine the strongest, a little longer than the third, and equal in 

 length to the last in the dorsal fin ; caudal rounded. Scales 

 ctenoid on the body, about 14 rows between the lateral line and 

 the base of the sixth dorsal spine. Colour greyish brown, covered 

 all over with black spots ; soft dorsal, anal, pectoral, and caudal 

 with a light edge. 



Hfib. Stated by Kner to have been taken at Madras ; also found 

 ill the Malay Archipelago. 



576. (17.) Serranus salmoides. 



Iloloceutrus salmoides, Lacep. H. N. Poiss. iii, pi. xxxiv, fig. 3, iv, 



p. 346. 

 Serranus salmoides, Day, Fish. India, p. 20, pi. iv, fig. 3 (seesynon.). 



D. 11/15-16. P. 18. A. 3/8. C. 17. L. r. 105/90. L.tr. 24/50. 



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

 length. Eyes diameter 6| in length of head, \\ to 2 from end 

 of snout, and 1| apart. Preopercle slightly emarginate, serrated 

 along its vertical margin, with five or six denticulations at its angle. 

 Fins third dorsal spine one third of the length of the head, they 

 gradually decrease to the last, but none are so long as the rays ; 

 second anal spine the strongest, but not so long as the third ; 

 caudal rounded. Scales cycloid on the head, ctenoid on the body. 

 Colour dark reddish brown, having round black spots over the 

 head, body, and fins, those on the head and jaws small. Large 

 blotches or ill-defined bands on the body. 



Hdb. Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago ; not 

 common in India. 



577. (18.) Serranus semipunctatus. 



Serranus semipunctatus, Cuv. fy Vol. H. N. Poiss. ii, p. 341 ; Day, 

 Fish. India, p. 20 (see synon.). 



D. 11/16. P. 17. V. 1/5. A. 3/8. C. 17. 



Length of head 3j, height of body 4| in the total length. Eyes 

 diameter 6 in length of head, lj from end of snout, 1^ apart. 

 Serrations on preopercle strong ; three coarse teeth at its angle, 

 but they are not spiny as in S. sexfasciatus. Fins dorsal spines 

 moderately strong, increasing in length to the fifth ; third anal 

 spine a little the longest, and equalling the third of the dorsal ; 

 caudal large, fan-shaped, and equal to the pectoral in size. Colour 

 body reddish brown, with six or seven broad darker vertical 

 cross bands ; head and first portion of the body, as well as the 

 free portion of the tail, with some small well-marked spots ; dorsal 

 and anal yellow, and likewise spotted ; ventral grey. 



Ilab. Pondicherry ; attaining at least 12 inches in length. 



