1868.] MR. F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. 151 



The numbers of spines, rays, and scales of the three are identical, 

 whilst the difference in proportion is only such as might be due to 

 age, sex, and accidental circumstances. 



The general coloration of these three species is scarlet, with a more 

 or less purplish gloss. In a number of specimens from 2^ inches 

 to 16 inches in length the following variations in colour were no- 

 ticed. 



In the smallest there is a dark mark along the base of the dorsal 

 fin, commencing at the opercles, and a black band across the back, 

 just anterior to the root of the tail, on either side of which and ex- 

 tending over the back it has a white edge. In a specimen a little 

 larger the colours are the same, except that there is a dark line along 

 each row of scales. At Jyu inches in length the band across the 

 back before the tail is still very distinct, but it does not extend quite 

 so far down the sides, and its light edges are not so visible. At 8-j^ 

 inches the white edging has almost gone. At 9 inches, in one spe- 

 cimen, there is only a very indistinct dark bar across the back ; it has, 

 in fact, become the M. malabaricus, whilst at 1 1 j^^ it has assumed the 

 full scarlet colours of the M. chirtah. At 1 6 inches in length the 

 scarlet colours are not so vivid, and the fins are slightly darker than 

 in the young. 



MULLID^. 



Upeneoidbs fasciolatus, sp. nov. 



D. 7/i. P. 15. V. 1/5. A. 2/5. C. 15. L. 1. 36. L. tr. 2i/«- 



Length of specimen 3 inches. 



Length of head |, of pectoral \, of caudal \, of base of first 

 dorsal y^^, of base of second dorsal -^, of base of anal ^^ ^^ the 

 total length. Height of head \, of body |, of first dorsal ^, of second 

 dorsal -jL., of ventral -f^, of anal -^ of the total length. 



Eyes. Upper margin near the profile ; diameter |- of length of 

 head, 1 diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter apart. 



Profile of head rounded. 



Posterior extremity of maxilla reaches to beneath the anterior 

 third of the orbital. Interorbital space concave, having a longitu- 

 dinal groove down its centre. The barbels reach to opposite to the 

 posterior margin of the orbit. 



Teeth in several villiform rows in both jaws, and in an uninter- 

 rupted semilunar band in vomer and palate. 



Fins. Second spine of first dorsal the highest, six rows of scales 

 between the end of first dorsal and commencement of second dorsal. 

 Origin of anal in a line slightly posterior to the origin of the second 

 dorsal. Ventrals reach about halfway to the anus. Caudal deeply 

 forked. 



Scales ctenoid over body, cheeks, and head, also over commence- 

 ment of caudal, besides which there are some minute scales between 

 rays of the second dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. 



Lateral line in arborescent form on each scale. 



Air-bladder absent. 



Colours. Of a reddish chestnut along the back, becoming silvery 



