217 



RAZOR CORYPHENE. 



Coryphsena Novacula. C. rufo-jfatescens, capite pinnaquc anali 



lineis ccerulris canccllatis. 

 Reddish yellow Coryphene, witli the head and vent-fin can* 



cellated with blue lines. 

 Novacula piscis Rondeletii. Will. p. 214. t. O. 2. Pesce 



Pettina. Salv. 



THIS, according to Salvian, its most accurate 

 scriber, is a small species, scarcely exceeding a 

 palm in length : the head is very large and com- 

 pressed, as is the whole body, rising into an edge 

 both above and below : the mouth is rather small, 

 and furnished with small and very sharp teeth, and 

 with four larger ones in front : the eyes are small, 

 and situated on the upper part of the head : the 

 dorsal fin, which is of moderate breadth, com- 

 mences from the back of the head, and is continued 

 nearly to the tail : the vent is placed nearer the 

 head than the tail, and from it is continued the 

 vent fin, which terminates, like the dorsal, at a 

 small distance from the base of the tail : the tail 

 itself is broad, and nearly even at the end : the 

 head, jaws, and gill-covers, are marked by numer- 

 ous blue lines ; while the anal fin and tail are 

 beautifully variegated by a kind of cancellated alter- 

 nation of green and yellowish lines : the dorsal fin 

 is red, and marked with a few scattered blue spots : 

 the rest of the animal is of a reddish yellow colour, 

 and in habit resembles the C. Caerulea, being very 

 deep in proportion to its length. It is a native of 



