PERCUXE. 511 



Corona and Corake, Tarn. ; Coompoo, Bel. ; Nakma, Arabi ; Nya Kroo, 

 Arracan. 



D. 12/13-14. P. 17. A.3/7-8. C.17. L. 1.46-50. L.tr. 7/10. C. pyl. 6-7. 



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

 Eyes diameter from 3 to 5 in length of head, | to lj from end of 

 snout and also apart. Preopercle serrated in its whole extent, very 

 coarsely so at the angle. Fins dorsal spines strong, third or fourth 

 longest. Pectoral nearly as long as head. Second anal spine 

 longest, strongest, and longitudinally fluted. Caudal emarginate. 

 Colour four or five interrupted lines of grey along the sides, three 

 or four above the lateral line ; sometimes they coalesce and form 

 bands. Two or three rows of spots along the dorsal, and in the 

 adult a single row of dull blotches at the base of the fin. 



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

 pelago to North Australia ; attaining 1 1 feet or more in length. 



678. (6.) Pristipoma argenteum. 



Sciaena argentea, Forsk. Descr. Anim. p. 51, no. 60. 

 Pristipoma argenteum, Day, Fish. India, p. 74, pi. viii, fig. 3 (marked 

 as P. commersonii) (see synon.). 



D. 12/14. P. 15. A. 3/7. C. 17. L. 1. 50. L. tr. 5/13. 



Length of head 3g, height of body 3 5 in the total length. Eyes 

 diameter 3^ in length of head, 1 from end of snout, and | apart. 

 Fins each alternate dorsal spine thicker on one side, third highest, 

 the fourth nearly as high. Pectoral as long as the head. The 

 second anal spine strong, having a raised keel along its anterior 

 surface ; third much weaker and shorter. Colour silvery, covered 

 with black spots in the upper two thirds of the body, forming 

 sinuous lines which diminish in number with age ; a dark spot on 

 the opercle. A row of basal spots along the dorsal fin, two more 

 rows above in the spinous portion, and a dark line along the soft 

 fin. 



This species has a less deeply cleft dorsal fin than P. Jiastata 

 (except in the very young). 



Hab. Eed Sea and seas of India. 



679. (7.) Pristipoma dussmniert 



Pristipoma dussumieri, Cuv. fy Vol. H. N. Poiss. v, p. 259 ; Day, 



Fish. India, p. 75, pi. xix, fig. 6 (see synon.). 

 Cut-tah-lte, Tarn. 



D. 12/14. P. 15. A. 3/7. C. 19. L. 1. 50. L. r. 54/52. L. tr. 6/15. 

 Length of head 4, height of body rather more than 3 in the total 

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

 snout, and f apart. Fins dorsal spines strong, every alternate 

 one broader, the fourth the longest ; pectoral as long as head ; first 

 ventral ray with a filamentous prolongation; second anal spine 



