314 Zoological Society : — 



side of the base vnth the side of the body. When the fin is pulled 

 away from the body, these scales spread out and cover up the hollow 

 of the axil. The ventral fins are inserted under the bases of the 

 pectorals ; they are short, and their apices are truncate. The spine 

 is very short, and there is a scale-like appendage in the axil. The 

 long anal fin resembles the dorsal in shape, being high and falcate 

 in front ; the falcate portion scaly ; the hinder portion low, with the 

 rays projecting beyond the membrane. It terminates on the vertical 

 of the termination of the dorsal. The vent is placed a little before 

 the commencement of the anal fin. The caudal fin is lunate, and 

 has a wide spread ; its base is scaly. 



The middle portion of the tail is raised or thickened longitudinally, 

 so as to form a kind of flat, broad keel. Near the base of the caudal 

 fin there are some transverse grooves above and below. 



Forty-five rows of scales may be counted between the border of the 

 opercle and the base of the caudal fin, and on the fin itself there are 

 nine or ten rows of small scales. There are about twenty-five series 

 of scales in the height of the body. The scales are very broad, and 

 their surfaces are radiate- striate, without the slightest trace of an 

 umbo or spine. 



One of the examples, measuring 321 inches in length, proved on 

 being opened to be a female, and had an egg-sac 3| inches long and 

 If inch across. There were five stout pyloric caeca, four of which 

 were 3 inches long, the fifth only half as long. The intestine was 

 convoluted, and 22 inches in length. The stomach was small ; the 

 liver of moderate size ; the gall-bladder large. 



The fishermen call this handsome fish " Freira do alto," Brama 

 Raii being called " Freira." Several specimens have been taken in 

 the months of February and March, the lengths of which ranged 

 from 27 to 33 inches. 



In form it bears a close general resemblance to Brama Raii, which, 

 however, is less thick in proportion, has much smaller scales, and 

 is vrithout the broad ridge at each side of the tail and the white 

 borders of the vertical fins. Moreover in that species the anterior 

 portions of the dorsal and anal fins are much less developed. If ad- 

 mitted into the genus Braina, the definition of that genus given in 

 Dr. Giinther's Catalogue will require modification in regard to the 

 size of the scales, the number of the dorsal spines, and the jaw- teeth, 

 which are there said to have an outer series of stronger teeth. No 

 such series is discoverable in the species now described. 



The following measurements were taken from two examples of 

 nearly the same length : — 



A. B. 



inches. inches. 



Total length 32^ 33 



Height 13 13 



Thickness under anterior part of dorsal. . 4 4 



Length of body without caudal 25 



Head G\ 7^ 



Eye, diameter 1 



