87 



the caudal of twelve long rays and of several small ones on each 

 side ; pectorals rather large, formed of seventeen rays ; ventrals 

 very large, being a good third longer than the pectorals, formed 

 of five rays and of a rather short spine. 



The general colour is of a dark brownish blue, with the sides 

 yellow, and the lower parts of a dirty white ; the upper part of 

 the head is green, as are also the fins ; they are all marked with 

 purple rounded spots ; the caudal is black in its posterior por- 

 tion, and more particularly on the lower part of it. In some 

 specimens, the back is beautifully marbled with brown blotches. 



This sort is found on seaweed bottoms. I have very little 

 doubt that it is the Platycephalus Fuscus, but Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes count one ray less to the second dorsal and to 

 the anal. 



NEOPLATYCEPHALUS. 



Eorm of Platycephalus, but distinguished by the dentition; 

 teeth very numerous, villiform, with other large canine and 

 very sharp ones, widely separated, and placed between them at 

 the lower jaw ; at the upper one, these large teeth form a line 

 on the palatines, and extend in a rather numerous bunch in 

 front ; those of the latter part are curved. 



NEOPLATYCEPHALUS GKANDIS. 



Height of the body about nine and a-half times in its total 

 length ; its breadth a little less than six times ; head three and 

 two-third times in total length ; orbit seven and a-half times 

 in length of head ; this is broad posteriorly, almost conical ; 

 in front of the eyes, its breadth is one-half of its length, 

 taken at its middle ; the snout is rather angular in front ; the 

 upper surface of the head is smooth, and presents faint longi- 

 tudinal uninterrupted lines ; the prseoperculum is armed towards 

 its external angle with two strong spines, the lower being much 

 longer than the upper one ; in some specimens it is over twice 

 its length. The orbit of the eye is oval, and has a nearly imper- 

 ceptible point in front, at its upper part ; the prseorbital has two 

 angles over the sides of the mouth ; the lower jaw is considerably 

 longer than the upper one. The body is inflated near the head, 

 and goes tapering towards the tail ; the lateral line runs over 

 about sixty-two scales to the root of the caudal, on which it 



