173 



four first rays are thick and bifid, but not branched ; the first is 

 even simple. The dorsal is large ; its spine is much shorter than 

 the rays, and in the male the first of these prolongates in a very 

 long filament ; this is bifid, the internal limb being much shorter 

 than the outer one ; the adipose is covered with scales. 



In a female specimen, I find a rather long filamentary appen- 

 dice inserted on the posterior edge of the maxillary, over the 

 angle. Having seen no other specimen of that sex, I do not 

 know if this is accidental. 



The colours of this fish are really magnificent. The upper 

 parts are of a greyish blue, with fine red, orange, and yellow 

 tinges on the sides of the head. On the back, extend rather 

 numerous transverse blotches of a fine scarlet carmine ; these 

 alternate with others which start from the lateral line, and 

 extend towards the belly without attaining it. The dorsal is 

 yellow, marbled with crimson ; the adipose are purple at the base, 

 yellow in their middle, and bordered with red on their external 

 edge. The caudal is yellow, spotted with the most beautiful 

 crimson ; the anal is white, with orange bands ; pectorals yellow, 

 with transversal red spots ; ventrals yellow, with purple spots, 

 and the extremity of the rays are pink. 



This description is taken from a female specimen caught in the 

 month of May, 1871. In the same month, and a few days after, 

 a male fish was brought to the market. The colours were less 

 brilliant and darker ; the upper parts were almost entirely purple ; 

 the caudal is of the last colour, with some marbled spots grey ; 

 the lateral sides are of a rosy red ; the long filament of the 

 dorsal, and also the straight rays and their membranes, are of 

 the same colour ; the remainder of the dorsal is white, with 

 purple rounded blotches in considerable number ; the adipose is 

 purple. 



These are the only two specimens I have seen ; one was called 

 by a fishmonger Mock Gurnet, and the other Flying Gurnet. 

 The length of the longest is about 19^ inches, and the other 

 about an inch shorter. 



Nota — Since this was written I have seen another specimen 

 with the long dorsal filament ; its colours were not brilliant. 



