29- 



ANTHIAS CLARKII. 



Order, Thoracic. 

 Native Name, (5&<i/^&f$eh. Pol-Kitchyah. 



A. clarrii. Body dark purple,, approaching to black,, divided by three 

 white streaks ; the first curves from the front of the dorsal fin, near the eye, 

 and terminates on the lower plate ; the second streak crosses the body from 

 about the middle of the dorsal to the front spine of the anal fin ; the third 

 streak curves inwards from the outer rays of the caudal fin. Part of the head, 

 the body between the pectoral and ventral fins, and the caudal fin, are bright 

 yellow, tinged with orange ; the dorsal and anal fins are purple. Mouth 

 situated high ; the iris golden. 



Branchiostegous rays 2. Dorsal 25, ten spinous. Pectoral 18. Ventral 6, 

 one spinous. Anal 15, two spinous. Caudal 16. 



The Pol-Kitchyah of the Cingalese is very scarce, few of the 

 fishers in the neighbourhood of Galle having ever seen it. The name 

 is derived from the beautiful Java Sparrow. It rarely exceeds four, 

 or four and a half inches in length. It is a good, firm, and whole- 

 some fish. Pol signifies Cocoa-nut ! ! ! — so much for native derivations. 



The Anthias Clarkii appears to differ from the Linnaean Perca 

 Polymna, figured by Block, under the name of Anthias Polymna, 

 t. 316, fig. 1, only by being figured from the living specimen; and 

 is named after the engraver, Mr. John Clark, who has not only 

 done ample justice to, but laid the author under very great obliga- 

 tions to him for his able assistance in, the present work. 



