110 



SPARID.E. 



cheeks, operculum, and interoperculum covered with scales ; 

 preoperculum, part of the space before and under the orbit, 

 of a metallic tinfoil appearance : two narrow stripes on each 

 side behind the head, which meet on the central line at the 

 top ; at the origin of the lateral line, behind the edge of the 

 operculum, a conspicuous dark patch made up of small spots : 

 the colour of the body is reddish, tinged with grey ; lighter 

 on the sides, which are golden grey, and marked with faint 

 longitudinal bands the whole length of the body : the belly 

 nearly white ; dorsal and anal fins brown, each appearing as 

 if lodged in a groove, from the rising edges of the skin and 

 scales along the base ; pectorals and tail red ; ventrals grey. 

 The number of fin-rays are : — 



D. 12 + 13 : P. 17 : V. 1 + 5 :'a. 3 + 12 : C. 17. 



Among the drawings obligingly lent me by Mr. Couch, 

 there is one of this fish in which a malformation has oc- 

 curred in the want of intermaxillary bones. It is copied as a 

 vignette. The. fish is adult, as shown by its having acquired 

 the dark spot ; and it was taken on a line by a baited hook. 



