18. 



CH^TODON ATRO-MACULATUS. 



Order, Thoracic. 

 Native Name, Q^)GJ^>od^O0'). Dewi Koraleyah. 



C. atro-maculatus. Body silvery, apparently shot with a lilac and pink hue 

 above the lateral line, and irregularly marked with black spots of various 

 forms. The fins remarkably prominent, and with radii strongly indicated ; 

 the spines on the dorsal and lower fins very powerful ; the pectoral fin 

 pale yellow. The general appearance inelegant and formidable. Lateral 

 line very visible and arched. 



Branehiostegous rays 4. Dorsals, eleven spinous. Pectoral 16. Ventral 6, 

 one spinous. Anal 18, four spinous. Caudal 18. 



The Dewi Koraleyah of the Cingalese inhabits rocky situations, 

 is generally found at the mouths of rivers, and as high up as the flow 

 of the tide. It is generally esteemed, its flesh partaking the flavor of 

 trout. It is found wherever the sea-weed called by the Cingalese 

 " Pendah," grows, of which it is particularly fond, and with this weed 

 anglers bait their hooks for it. 



Block, the German Historian, has described a fish which in many 

 respects corresponds with this, under the Linnsean name " Cha3todou 

 Argus ;" but in his colored figure the spots are represented as 

 circular, with the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, yellow; whereas the 

 fins of the Dewi Koraleyah are never yellow until life has been for 

 some time extinct, and the spots are of various forms. 



This fish belongs to the genus Ephippus of Cuvier, and the Cavaliers 

 of the French. Dr. Russel, in his fine work on Indian Fishes, t. 78, 

 equally figures the spots as round, so that the shape of the spots may 

 be liable to vary ; the number of rays in the fins, given by Dr. 

 Russel, agree well with our fish. 



Figure—' About two-thirds the size of the Specimen. 



