264 RED HANDFTSir. 



size has been seen ncai'ly round, but another, only four inches 

 and a half in length, was equally compressed with the larger 

 individuals. The head slopes in front from behind the eyes, 

 which are large and lateral. Angle of the mouth depressed, 

 the gape considerable, mystache Avide; teeth scarcely regular, 

 long and sharp, expanding from the jaws. Lateral line obscurely 

 marked, but visible by the insertion of muscles; and along the 

 root of the dorsal fin a row of small bony processes. No scales 

 visible on the fore part of the body, but discernible near the 

 tail. The dorsal fin bcacins from above the srill-covers, and 

 continues of about the same breadth until near the tail, where 

 it becomes narrower, as does the anal fin irom the vent; and 

 both are united to the caudal fin, the root of which is well 

 marked and distinct; the form of this fin long-lancet-shaped. 

 Pectorals round, reaching more than half-way to the vent; the 

 belly being but of short dimensions. The dorsal fin has seventy 

 ravs, the anal sixty; tail with twenty rays, those of the middle 

 in this example two inches long, and on the side less than a 

 fourth of that length. Ventrals tlioracic, pointed, the rays 

 fastened down with a membrane through half their length. 



The colour of this fish is usually a brilliant red or scarlet, 

 which is deepest on the back; the belly pale. In some instances 

 the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are much more extended than 

 in otliers; and tlicn they are marked Avitli stripes of much 

 beauty, so that the appearance of the fish has countenanced the 

 opinion that there is more than one European species. Such 

 a one is described by Rafinesque, under the name of C. mar- 

 ginata, but the figure he gives is below contempt. The following 

 is a description of this variety of the Bandfish: — the example 

 eleven inches in length, with the general form of the species; 

 the breadth of the dorsal and anal fins rcnnarkable, and the 

 extremity of the caudal fin lengthened out into a thread. The 

 dorsal fin begins anterior to the border of the gill-covers, fourth 

 rav longer than the three anterior ravs. Body covered alons: 

 its postericu' portion with deeper purple-looking scales, which 

 do not touch each otlu^r. Pectorals begin under the second 

 rav of tlu^ dorsal, broad and round. Upper portion of the head 

 and jaws red, on the sides pale yellow. Ventral fins and belly 

 pearly wdiite; pectorals pale red. Membrane of the doasal and 

 anal fins pale yellow, with red rays, and a light purple border. 



