149 



distinctive character, " teeth, in the jaws in a single series ;" but 

 in the characters of the genus, a few pages further on, he says : — 

 " Teeth in the jaws in a single series ; but there is sometimes an 

 interior series of smaller teeth, destined to replace those in func- 

 tion " This only shows how artificial is this division. At the corner 

 of the mouth there are two large posterior canine teeth ; those 

 of the regular line are small behind, and grow gradually stronger 

 as they are placed more forward ; in front, there is, on each side, 

 a strong canine ; behind this line, there is another line of smaller 

 and more blunt teeth. At the lower jaw, the teeth are disposed 

 the same, but those of the inner series do not extend so far back- 

 wards. In the young specimens, and perhaps in the females, 

 there are no posterior canine teeth at the angle of the mouth. 

 The head is rough ; the opercles scaly ; on the cheeks, there are 

 two series of scales, and all the surface is covered with irregular 

 lines, which radiate from the eye ; the praeoperculurn is not 

 serrated. 



The height of the body is contained three and one-third times in 

 the total length ; the head four times in the same ; eye four and 

 one-third times in the length of the head. The general profile is 

 oval, the highest place being at about the middle of the fish ; the 

 dorsal scales do not extend on the base of the fin. The lateral 

 line is continuous, following the upper profile till a little before 

 the end of the dorsal, and then descending by an oblique line to 

 the middle, which it follows up to the root of the caudal ; it is formed 

 of a succession of twenty-five long carinated lines, which expaud 

 in rather numerous but short arbuscles at their end. The trans- 

 verse line numbers ten scales, the lateral line running over the 

 third. Dorsal sealeless, formed of nine spines and eleven rays ; 

 caudal rounded, of thirteen long rays ; anal of three spines and 

 ten soft rays ; ventrals of moderate size, pointed ; pectorals large, 

 of thirteen rays. 



Entirely of an obscure green on the upper parts, and of a dark 

 blue on the lower ; a broad, black, longitudinal band extends from 

 the posterior edge of the eye to the end of the operculum ; the 

 cheeks are covered with little, irregular white spots ; the throat is 

 purple, spotted with white ; all the scales of the body are bor- 

 dered with carmine, but there is no trace of spots or bands. The 

 fins are green, the spiny dorsal having red tinges, and the rays 



