FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 45 



Diacope axillaris, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 532. 



Mesoprion marginatus, Bleeker, Amboina, 1852, ii, p. 554 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 31 ; Giinther. Fisclie 

 d. Sudsee, p. 13, t. xiv. 



Mesoprion Gaimardi, Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Ind. Neerl, vi, Enum. Pise. p. 23. 

 Oenyoroge margmata, Giintlier, Catal. i, p. 181. 

 Lutjanus ma/rgmatus, Bleeker, Halmah, p. 155, and Lutjani, p. 72. 

 Sungarah, Tam. 



B. vii, D. Tri-\^, P- 16, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. r. If, L. tr. 6-7/15, Cebc. pyl. (7 Kner.) 

 Length of Lead 2/7 to 1/4, of caudal 1/5, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 

 2/7 of length of head, Ij diameters from end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. The height of the 

 preorbital equals two-|;hirds of the length of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below the first third of the 

 orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle finely serrated above its emargina,tion, which is deep and situated ia its lower 

 third, angle rounded where the serratures are coarsest, whilst some are continued along its horizontal edge : sub- 

 and inter-operclfis entire, the latter having a large tuberosity directed upwards and slightly outwards and which 

 is received iato the preopercular notch : opercle with two small points. Teeth — ^moderately strong canines in 

 the premaxillaries, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth iu both jaws, a narrow villiform y\^-shaped series in 

 the vomer, and a narrow palatine band : none on the tongue. Fms — dorsal spines strong, the fourth the longest 

 and equal to two-fifths the height of the body, from it they gradually decrease ia length to the last which equals 

 the length of the orbit, the soft portion of the fin rounded, three-fourths as high as the fourth spine, and its 

 height equal to half the length of its base. Pectoral nearly as long as the head and reaching to above the first 

 anal spine :" ventral reaches the vent. Second anal spine the strongest and equal to or rather longer than the 

 third, and as long as the highest in the dorsal fin : soft portion of the fin one-third higher than that of the 

 dorsal : caudal emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows above the lateral-line to opposite the end of the dorsal fin 

 where they become horizontal, as they likewise are below the lateral-line ; they extend forwards on the back to 

 above the hind edge of the eye. Colours — purplish-yellow above the lateral-line and golden below it. Generally 

 no lateral blotch. The colours of the back are continued on to the lower third of the dorsal fin and cease at a 

 dark grey longitudinal band which has a Kghter one above it, edged superiorly with black and margined with 

 white : caudal dark purplish-red having a white edge : pectoral, ventral and anal flesh-coloured having a 

 yellowish tint. 



" On the Malabar coast of India specimens are frequently taken that have a black lateral-blotch : also on 

 the Coromandel coast some few have the lateral-mark faintly developed, but it is more commonly absent. 

 This does not depend upon size or season, but may upon sex or locality : in specimens preserved in spirit the 

 mark is liable to disappear. The one figured is 7 inches long, and from Madras. 



Habitat. — East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, attaining at least 16 inches in length. 



24. Lutianus yapilli, Plate XIII, fig. 6. 

 Spams yapilli, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 75, pi. 96. 

 Mesoprion yapilli, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 483. 



B. vii, D. ia, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 47, L. r. if, L. tr. 6/14. 



Length of head nearly 1/4, of caudal 1/8, height of body 3/11 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/6 

 of length of head, 2 diameters from end of snout, and Ij apart. The distance from the eye to the upper edge 

 of the maxilla equals one diameter and a quarter the length of the orbit : lower jaw the longer. The maxilla 

 reaches to below the front edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle with a very shallow emargination 

 above its rounded angle, the whole of the limb being finely serrated, the serrations becoming a little more coarse 

 and widely separated at its angle and along its horizontal border. Sub- and inter-opercles entire. No 

 interopercular knob. Teeth — ^large canines in the premaxillaries, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in 

 either jaw : villiform ones in a _^-form on the vomer, and in a band on the palate. The specimen having had 

 the tongue removed the existence or not of lingual teeth cannot be ascertained. Russell also omits to mention 

 whether it is rough or smooth, a subject which he generally notices. Fins — dorsal spines strong, the third being 

 three-quarters the height of the fourth which is nearly half the height of the body, they decrease to the ninth 

 which is only 4/11 of that of the fourth spine : soft portion of the dorsal rounded, its height being rather more 

 than half the length of its base. Pectoral nearly as long as the head : the ventral does not reach half the way to the 

 anal fin. Second anal spine the strongest but not quite so long as the third, which equals the length of the head 

 anterior to the orbits : its soft portion a little higher than long at its base, lower edge rounded. Scales — in 

 rows parallel to the back above the lateral-line, and horizontal below it : 7 rows on the cheeks, none on the 

 preorbital : ■ superiorly they extend to above the hind edge of the eye, ten rows between the occiput and the 

 first dorsal spine. Golo'wrs — silvery-grey on the back becoming yellowish white on the abdomen : longitudinal 

 yellowish bands along each row of scales, which in the dry specimen appear sometimes in the form of occasional 

 black spots : cheeks dashed with purple. Fins yellowish, dorsal, anal, and caudal edged with orange. 



The foregoing description is from a single specimen 26| inches long, stuffed, and in the British Museum, 

 it came from Madras where I was not so fortunate as to meet with the species. Jerdon remarks, in 

 Ichthyological Gleanings in Madras (M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 130) " Vella haclisay, Tam. Russell, pi. 95. 

 Not very common, of soft texture." A figure of it exists amongst Sir W. EUiot's drawings. 



Sabitat. — Coromandel coast of India. 



