856 LIEUT. -COL. PLAYFAIR ON [Nov. 14, 



gin of soft portion, the exterior margins of caudal, the membrane 

 between the third and fourth spines of anal, and the superior mar- 

 gin of pectorals darker. A white red-edged spot at axil of pectorals. 



Description of the specimen. — Form rather elongate. Snout long, 

 equal to diameter of eye. The interocular space is contained five 

 times and a half in the length of the head ; the two central bony 

 ridges distant from one another and parallel. The groove for the 

 process of the intermaxillary bones goes as far back as the anterior 

 third of the eye, and is equal to the length of the snout. The tur- 

 binal bone terminates in front in two spines, the upper of which is 

 directed forward, the lower downward ; it does not cover the inter- 

 maxillary. The upper maxillary bone reaches below the anterior 

 third of the eye, the diameter of which is contained thrice and a half 

 in the length of the head, the operculum and spine included. 



All the opercles are striated and denticulated, as also are the sca- 

 pular and humeral bones. 



The prseopercular margin is inclined forwards, terminating in a 

 large and strong spine, longer than half the margin above it, which 

 is coarsely denticulated. The opercular spines are broad and flat, 

 the upper being the longer. Suboperculum entire, except on the 

 upper third, where the striae are produced beyond the edge. Inter- 

 operculum strongly and irregularly denticulated. 



Dorsal spines moderately strong, the third and fourth longest, but 

 shorter than the soft portion, which is less than half the height of 

 body. First spine of anal minute ; the second is one-fifth of the 

 third ; the third is very long and strong, much more so than the 

 fourth, or than any other spine or ray in the vertical fins ; it is half 

 the height of the body, and nearly one-fifth of the total length ; the 

 fourth can be entirely hidden in the groove of the third. Superior 

 lobe of caudal longest, and contained five times and one-third in the 

 total length. Pectorals contained five times and two-thirds in the 

 same, and about equal to the ventrals ; the spine of the latter is two- 

 thirds of its length ; the longest ray reaches to the thirteenth scale 

 of the lateral line, and is remote from the vent. 



Scales not striated, but strongly serrated on the edge, and having 

 numerous pores or perforations. 



Length 8^ inches. 



Creole name of this and the other species of Holocentrum and 

 Myripristis, " Lion." 



Hab. Seychelles ; Red Sea. 



PoLYNEMIDjE. 



90. POLYNEMUS SEXFILIS, C. & V. 



XiPHIID.E. 



91. HisTioPHORXJS BREviROSTRis, Playf. 



92. H. GLADIUS. 



Scomber gladius, Brouss. Mem. Acad. Sc. 1/86, p. 454, pi. 10. 



