496 TELEOSTEI. ACANTIIOPTEHYCIT. 



a second band from above the orbit to the middle of the tail ; a 

 third through the orbit to the lower half of the tail ; and a fourth 

 from the angle of the mouth to below the base of the pectoral. 

 Fins orange. 



This fish is very common amongst the coral-reefs on the Anda- 

 man Islands. The largest specimen I obtained was only a little 

 above 1^ inches in length. It may be the young of A. cyanosomn, 

 Bleeker. 



Hub. Andamans and Nicobars. 



650. (11.) Apogon aureus. (Fig. 150.) 



Centropomus aureus, Lacep. II. N. Poiss. iv, pp. 253, 273. 

 Apogon aureus, Day, Fish. India, p. 61, pi. xvi, fig. 8 (see synon.). 



D. 7 | 1/9. P. 14. A. 2/8. C. 17. L. 1. 25-26. L. tr. 2/6. Crcc. pyl. 4. 

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

 Eyes diameter 2^ to 2| in length of head, ^ from end of snout, 

 and | apart. Outer edges of vertical and horizontal margins of 

 preopercle serrated. Fins dorsal spines rather slender, 3rd not 

 quite so long as 4th ; soft portion of tin highest, and cut square or 

 even slightly emarginate, especially in large specimens; caudal 



Fig. 150. Apoyon aure 



emarginate. Colour body pinkish shot with gold ; a rather broad, 

 black band at root of caudal fin over free portion of tail ; some 

 minute black spots around jaws, on upper portions of opercles, and 

 on crown of head. Fins reddish, first dorsal black-tipped ; ventral 

 spine and outer ray black, and a narrow black edge to second 

 dorsal, anal, and caudal. The variety A. roseipinnis has a violet 

 band along the base of the anal fin. 



Hob. Red Sea, east coast of Africa, the seas of India and Malay 

 Archipelago. Very common at Madras up to 5 or 6 inches in 

 length ; in June and July they are usually abundant. 



