GIBBOUS WRASSE. 299 



of thirteen ; the ventral of six rays ; the first ray of the ven- 

 tral fin was strong and sharp ; the anal fin consisted of four- 

 teen rays, of which the first three were strongly acuminated. 

 The tail was large, rounded at the end, and the rays 

 branched ; the ends of the rays extending beyond the webs : 

 the lateral line was incurvated towards the tail : the gill- 

 covers and body covered with large scales ; the first were 

 most elegantly spotted, and striped with blue and orange, 

 and the sides spotted in the same manner ; but nearest the 

 back the orange was disposed in stripes ; the back fin and 

 anal fin were of a sea-green, spotted with black ; the ventral 

 fins and tail a fine pea-green ; the pectoral fins yellow, 

 marked at their base with transverse stripes of red." 



