524 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTEBYGJI. 



699. (7.) Scolopsis vosmeri. 



Anthias vosmeri, Block, Ich. t. 321 ; Bl. Schn. Syst. Ich. p. 304. 

 Scolopsis vosmeri, Day, Fish. India, p. 87, pi. xxiii, fig. 1 (young), 

 fig. 2 (semi-adult), fig. 3 (adult) (see synon.). 



Kundul, Tarn. 

 D.10/9. A. 3/7. L. 1.42-44. L.tr.3|-4/13-14. (Ca;c.pyl.3,Kner.) 



Length of head 4 to 4|, height of body 2 to 3 in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 21 to 3 (in the adult) in length of head, 

 | from end of snout, and f to 1 apart. Preorbital armed supe- 

 riorly with one strong fluted spine projecting backwards ; above 

 this spine is another directed both forwards and backwards : in 

 some specimens these are very small, especially the anterior one. 

 Fins dorsal spines strong, each alternate one broader ; they in- 

 crease in length to the fourth or fifth, from these they continue 

 about equal ; the rays are of about the same height. Anal spines 

 strong, the third nearly equal to the highest in the dorsal fin, but 

 shorter than the second ; caudal forked. Colour adult a pale dull 

 red, usually with a whitish band round the opercles, from the 

 upper edge of which a longitudinal wide white line passes back- 

 wards below the lateral line, being lost beneath the end of the base 

 of the dorsal fin. Every scale ou the body has generally a dark 

 basal mark. In the medium-sized fish (S. japonicus) the ground- 

 colour is often the same as in the adult, but in others it is an ashy 

 grey; the opercular band is generally distinct and of a cream-yellow 

 colour. There is a deep arterial blood-red spot behind the opercular 

 spine, and the fins are pale yellow. In the young (S. torquatns) 

 the band on the opercles is very distinct and of a light lemon- 

 yellow colour, whilst the blood-red spot behind the opercular spite 

 is very well marked; the inside of the mouth is likewise red. 



Hob, Eed Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India, the Malay 

 Archipelago, and beyond ; attaining at least 12 inches in length. 



700. (8.) Scolopsis leucotaenia. 



Scolopsides leucotaenia, Sleeker, Batavia Nat. Tijdsch. iii, p. 451. 

 Scolopsis leucotsenia, Day, Fish. India, p. 88, pi. xxiii, fig. 4 (see 

 synon.). 



D. 10/9. P. 17. A. 3/7. L. 1. 39. L. tr. 3|/13. 



Length of head equals one fourth less than height of body. 

 Eyes diameter 2| in length of head, | from end of snout, and 1 

 apart. Fins dorsal spines strong, increasing in length to the 

 fourth ; second anal spine much the strongest and considerably 

 the longest. Colour a broad yellowish-white streak from eye to 

 tail, margined above and below with a dark purple stripe ; above it 

 the body is reddish brown, below yellowish ; a dark purplish 

 vertical band extends down the opercle. Tins reddish, the dorsal 

 with a fine black upper edge and a dark band along the centre of 

 its spinous portion. 



Hob, Bombay to the Malay Archipelago. 



