478 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTEBTGII. 



fourth the longest ; soft portion of the fiu rounded. Pectoral 

 reaching to nearly above the anal, ventral scarcely so far ; second 

 anal spine strongest and somewhat the longest, equalling the 

 third dorsal ; soft portion of fin rounded, its lower edge straight ; 

 caudal somewhat deeply emarginate. Scales in oblique rows 

 above lateral line, horizontal below. Colour brownish along back, 

 becoming whiter on sides and below ; two milk-white spots at base 

 of dorsal fin, the first below 6th to 8th spines, the second below 

 the last third of the soft dorsal; dorsal blackish brown; outer 

 edges of caudal and front edge of anal blackish, the latter having a 

 narrow white anterior margin ; ventral black with a white outer 

 edge. 



Hob. Eed Sea, seas of India, Malay Archipelago, and beyond. 



620. (25.) Lutjanus marginatus. 



Diacope marginala, Cuv. fy Val. H. N. Poiss. ii, p. 425. 

 Lutianus marginatus, Day, Fish. India, p. 44, pi. xiii, fig. 5 (see 

 synon.). 



Sunyarah, Tarn. 

 D.10/13-14. P.16. C.17. L.1.50. L.tr.6-7/15. (Caec.pyl.7, Kner.) 



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

 length. Eyes diameter 3 in length of head, 1| from end of snout, 

 and 1 apart. Vertical border of preopercle finely serrated above 

 the emargination, which is deep, angle rounded where the serra- 

 tion is coarsest, it is continued along the horizontal edge ; sub- and 

 interopercles entire, the latter having a large tuberosity directed 

 upwards and slightly outwards. Fins dorsal spines strong, the 

 fourth the longest, from it they gradually decrease in length ; soft 

 portion of fin rounded, three fourths as high as the fourth spine. 

 Pectoral reaching to above the first anal spine ; ventral reaches the 

 vent. Second anal spine the strongest and as long as the highest 

 dorsal ; soft portion of anal fin one third higher than that of the 

 dorsal ; caudal emarginate. Scales in oblique rows above lateral 

 line to opposite end of dorsal fin, where they become horizontal, 

 as they likewise are below the lateral line. Colour purplish 

 yellow above the lateral line and golden below it. Generally no 

 lateral blotch ; lower third of dorsal fin coloured like the back, 

 then a dark grey longitudinal band with a lighter one above it, 

 followed by black and edged with white ; caudal dark purplish red 

 with a white edge ; pectoral, ventral, and anal flesh-coloured with 

 a yellowish tint. 



On the Malabar coast of India specimens are frequently taken 

 with a black lateral blotch ; on the Coromandel coast a few r have 

 the lateral mark faintly developed, but it is more commonly absent. 

 This does not depend upon size or season, but may upon sex or 

 locality; in specimens preserved in spirit the mark is liable to 

 disappear. 



Hob. East coast of Africa, seas of India, and the Malay Archi- 

 pelago ; attaining at least 16 inches in length. 



