38 Mr. Bennett's Observations on Fishes 



nates at the upper part of the tail ; the inferior is distinctly marked at 

 the caudal fin, but disappears gradually in its passage forwards, and 

 ceases to be visible when it has traversed about one-third of the length of 

 the body. The upper jaw is divided into two equal, moveable portions; 

 and a central line divides the lower jaw. 



Length 4^ inches, breadth If inch. 



Although I have given to this fish a trivial appellation, it is not without 

 considerable doubt as to the propriety of doing so, unless I could at the 

 same time have furnished characters more clearly distinctive than are 

 afforded by the specimen. At present the Sc. dubius must rest its claim 

 to be regarded as a species on its locality, its rounded tail, the number 

 of the rays of its dorsal fin, and its peculiar double lateral line. No 

 assistance whatever, it is to be feared, can be derived from colour, a 

 character of very considerable importance among the Scarif but which 

 can never be relied on in a fish that has been long preserved in 

 spirit: in such a case we have little on which to depend except the. direc- 

 tion and extent of the markings, where they are strongly pronounced. 

 In this instance the colour is vmiform throughout, with the exception of 

 the darker hue exhibited by the fins. 



6. CiRRHITES MACULOSUS, 



Cir. saturate fusco-brunneas, infernk pallidior ; maculis, fasciisque 

 caudalibus tribus, ventralibusque duabus abbreviatis, subjiavesceniibus : 

 operculo squamoso : cirrkis narium binis, 



D. 1^. P. 14. V. f. A. A. C. 15. 



"1 9 



The colour is deep fuscous brown above, almost nigrescent at the base 

 of the dorsal fin, becoming much paler on the under parts: it is marked 

 by a few indistinct large patches of a yellowish colour, which assume the 

 appearance of two abbreviated yasc/tE on the belly, and of three somewhat 

 indistinct ya«c«« on the tail: the head is deep fuscous brovra above, with 

 a yellowish blotch on the cheek and prce-operculum; yellovvdsh beneath, 

 with a blackish /asc/a across the chin, behind this a very short one, and a 

 third at the angle of the jaw, continued downvrards from the angles of the 

 mouth. The whole of the fins are fuscous, the dorsal having the upper 



