462 



edges diverge and run subparallel to the supraciliary 

 bones, their inner ones at first diverge and then become 

 parallel, as shown in the cut. The postocular and pre- 

 opercle diverge widely below ; both have finely serrated 

 margins, becoming spinous at the angles ; border of the 

 opercle also spinous, but without definite strong spines. 

 Lower jaw strongly projecting, its symphysis receivable 

 into a wide edentulous notch in the premaxilla : two strong, 

 blunt, and short spines project horizontally forward from the 

 tip of the mandible. Gills four, a narrow slit behind the 

 fourth ; gill-rakers long and slender, 35 on the first arch, of 

 which 26 are on the lower limb. 



Teeth. — A band of coarse villiform teeth in each jaw; 

 those bordering the premaxillary notch and those at the man- 

 dibulary symphysis much enlarged ; a triangular patch on the 

 vomer and a band on each palatine; tongue smooth. 



Fins. — The dorsal commences well behind the base of the 

 pectoral; the first spine is short, the following regularly in- 

 crease in size to the sixth or last, which is one-fourth longer 

 than the diameter of the eye; the first ray is longest, a little 

 longer than the last spine. The first spine of the anal lies below 

 the fifth dorsal ray, and the fin extends much further back 

 than does the dorsal. Pectoral almost as longf as the head ; it 

 is pointed above and extends to above the insertion of the 

 anal. Ventral spine flat and strong, half the leno^th of the 

 head ; the first ray is longer, and reaches beyond the vent. 

 Caudal very deeply forked ; the middle rays are not half the 

 •diameter of the eye, while the longest ray of the upper lobe, 

 which slightly exceeds the lower one, is one-half longer 

 than the head ; the length of the peduncle above is nearly 

 twice, and its depth slightly more, than the diameter of the 

 eye. 



Scales. — Scales are present on the lower part of the cheek 

 and on the anterior half of the opercle; preopercle naked. All 

 the scales covered with fine striae, which terminate in points 

 averaging 25 in number; a sheath is formed at the bases of 

 the vertical fins, and a triangular scale lies at the axil of the 

 ventral. The lateral line arises with a slight curve at the 

 upper part of the opercle and runs almost straight to the 

 middle caudal rays, each scale with a median notch. 



Colour. — Crimson, with the middle of each scale silvery, 

 an alternate longitudinal line of red and silver being thus 

 formed ; fins crimson, with the spines and the outer rays of 

 the caudal colourless. 



Length. — 260 mm. ; to end of caudal lobe, 356 mm. 



