56 



" THETIS " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



length of the head. The pectoral reaches to below the base of the 

 last dorsal ray, is 1-24 in the length of the head, and equal to the 

 ventral, which reaches to below the tip of the second dorsal ray 

 when depi-essed ; the inner ray extends almost to the vent, placed 

 midway between the end of the lower jaw and the tips of the 

 central caudal rays. The anal arises below the centre of the 

 space marked by the bases of the last dorsal and the caudal rays ; 

 its first ray is simple, and shorter than the second, which measures 

 but slightly more than the second dorsal, and is a fifth higher 

 than the base of the anal. Adipose fin situated immediately but 

 wholly behind the vertical from the last anal ray. Caudal deeply 

 cleft, the upper lobe a third longer than the lower, the longest 

 rays equal in length to the pectoral : pedicel almost round, its 

 height two-thirds that' of the second anal ray. 



Scales cycloid, thin and nearly smooth, with radiating and con- 

 centric stride, those of the lateral line, which runs evenly along the 

 central line of the body, with a simple tubercle more apparent in the 

 region of the caudal. Cheeks and upper part of opercle scaly, 

 head otherwise naked ; rows of minute scales occur along the 

 outside of the ventral rays, at the base of which fin is an elongate 

 axillary scale. Caudal covered with small scales. 



Colou7-s. — Above green, below silvery-yellow, the opercles 

 brilliant silver, snout and eyes dark green, ujDper lip sky-blue, 

 distal portion of the second to fourth dol^sal rays black, a clouded 

 patch near the end of the ventrals. Upper lobe of caudal 

 narrowly, lower lobe broadly, edged with black. 



As in one or two particulars Giinther's figure does not well 

 represent our fishes, such discrepancies may be mentioned. The 

 profile from the eye to the dorsal is convex, not concave as drawn; 

 the upper angle of the distal portion of the maxillary is acute, 

 not rounded as shown, and is a little longer. The adipose fin is 

 situated wholly behind the base of the anal ; in the figure it is 

 represented well within the margin. Lastly, the tail is far from 



correctly shown : the 

 accompanying sketch 

 (Fig. 4), drawn from the 

 example above described 

 and of the actual size, 

 illustrates the true out- 

 line. The upper lobe is 

 xevy much longei' than 

 the lower and less mar- 

 gined with black ; the 

 inner margins of the fin 

 are rounded: in the figure 

 criticised the lobes are re- 

 presented of equal size, are coloured alike, and are acutely pointed. 



Fig. 4. 



