176 YELLOW SKULPIN. 



numerous. Eyes on the top of the head, near each other; the 

 vision lateral, but on dissection the muscles of the eyes are 

 seen to be so placed as to roll the ball upwards, but not 

 dov/nward. The tongue thin and free. Gill membrane 

 fastened down except at a small orifice behind the eye; on the 

 marsrin of the anterior border of the s;ill-cover is a stronar 

 flattened spine, having three points directed obliquely upward. 

 The body is narrower than the head, depressed, and channeled, 

 but round at the sides, becoming slender towards the tail. 

 Dorsal fins two, the first ray of the first being so long as to 

 overlap the tail, slender, and (in the example described) five 

 inches and a half long; the rays, four in number, decreasing 

 in length in regular progression, on which account Lacepede 

 launches out into a fanciful analogy between them and the 

 cords of the lyre, from which the fish has obtained its trivial 

 name. The second dorsal is broad, but does not approach the 

 tail, its ten rays rising above the fin, but bound down on its 

 border, the two last bound together, and longer than the 

 others. The anal fin answers to the second dorsal in the 

 number and nature of the rays, but is placed nearer the tail; 

 the latter organ rounded, with nine divided rays projecting 

 beyond the membrane. A process in front of the anal fin. 

 Pectorals with nineteen rays; those of the ventrals five, fan-shaped. 

 Lateral line begins high on the back, irregular at first, and 

 then straight; when dry this line appears like a fine cord, 

 and along its course at regular distances are short threads 

 proceeding obliquely backward, appearing the discharging ducts 

 of mucous glands. The colours are beautiful, but subject to 

 some variety: top of the head and along the back dusky 

 yellow; light golden yellow on the checks and sides, with two 

 regular stripes and some spots of azure; an ocellate spot near 

 the beginning of the lateral line, the centre yellowish brown, 

 the circle a fine blue. Dorsal fins s^olden vellow; on the first 

 dorsal stripes of azure run in the direction of the rays; at the 

 bottom a line ranges along parallel with the back. On the 

 second dorsal four longitudinal azure lines; tail with irregular 

 lines of the same. Pectorals yellow; ventrals dark, in some 

 examples with stripes of yellow and blue. The ventral is 

 united by a membrane to the pectoral. Belly white; the thorax 

 black. 



