DEM'EX. ;,'()'■> 



to tlic species, and even genus. The head is flat on the to]), 

 ;i)i(l tlic eyes high on the cheek. Scales on the body and 

 gill-covers large. 'Wc lateral line passes nearer the back, and 

 descends towards the tail. Pectoral fin long and pointed; tail 

 concave; dorsal fin a little expanded at its end; anal fin 

 rather short. 



In regard to colour Risso represents it as beautifully varied, 

 and in this he is supported by A\'illoughby. He says the 

 general hue is silvery, interchanged on the back with light 

 blue, and having blue spots on the sides. In front of the 

 head there are waves of golden yellow, silver, and amethyst; 

 the eyes blue, with a golden iris. 'J'he dorsal fin a bluish 

 yellow; pectorals reddish; caudal a fainter red. Willoughby 

 describes the back as green or yellow, in the large examples 

 inclining to purple, dotted over with clouds of blue and dark, 

 the colour extendin<if to the sides. At the roots of the hind- 

 most rays of the dorsal fin a black spot, as there is also at 

 the origin of the pectoral fin. Ventral fins yelloAV. 



A large example seen by Willoughby was red all over, 

 Avith a shade of purple; but the specimen represented by 

 Donovan, which we have figured, is of a more subdued colour 

 than is described above, as indeed might be expected from the 

 more cloudy skies and lower temperature of the Avater of our 

 more northern regions; for, as Ave have had repeated 02:)portu- 

 nities of remarking, such fishes as Avander to us from the 

 jMediterranean, are usually destitute of the brilliant tints Avhich 

 adorn them in tlicir native seas. 



The fin rays are differently numbered by different writers; 

 but Ave give them as collected from Risso: — Dorsal eleven 

 sjiinous and tAvelve soft; anal three spinous and eight soft; 

 A'entral one s])inous and five soft ; pectoral fourteen, caiulal 

 eighteen. 



/}/'■■■ 

 Front Teeth of Deutex. 



