1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1059 



brane of the ventrals is scaly ; the rest naked. This fish but rarely 

 occurs at Pinang, where it is highly valued on account of its excellent 

 flavour and firmness of flesh. Of four at different times examined, the 

 smallest measured 1 foot 5 inches in length : in external characters all 

 resembled each other except in the number of anal rays, varying from 

 7 to 8, the last one being double. M. M. Cuvier and Valenciennes 

 describe the specimen discovered by Dr. Finlayson in Siam, with 1 1 

 dorsal spines, whereas those from the sea of Pinang present 12. In 

 other characters the latter so perfectly agree with the description, that 

 their identity appears to admit of no doubt. 



Gen. Plectorhynchus, Lacepede, 1801. 

 (Diagramma, Cuvier 1817.) 

 Two minute pores under the symphysis, and two fossets on each 

 branch of the lower jaw ; preopercle toothed ; lips folded and turned 

 back. 



Plectorhynchus blochii, (Cuvier and Val.) 



Anthias diagramma, Bloch, PI. 320. 



Sparus diagramma, Shaw, IV. 440, PI. 65. 



Diagramma blochii, Cuvier and Valenciennes, V. 312. 

 Young. Ground-colour of the head, cheeks, opercles and upper half 

 of the body bright orange, lower half yellowish white ; from between 

 the eyes a longitudinal brown band following the back, continuing 

 above the base of the soft dorsal fin ; a second from the muzzle above 

 the orbit, dividing in two portions which again unite above the middle 

 of the pectoral fin, and continue straight to the posterior part of the 

 soft dorsal ; a third, the broadest, from the eye straight to the root of 

 the caudal ; a fourth under and following the course of the latter ; a 

 fifth and sixth of lighter brown, from the muzzle to the posterior part 

 of the abdomen ; a seventh similar from the gill-opening to the poste- 

 rior part of the root of the anal fin. The margin of the dorsal mem- 

 brane black, base and upper part orange, intermediate part milk white ; 

 between the root of the third and fourth dorsal spine a black spot ; 

 from the point of the second to the base of the eighth spine a broad 

 oblique black band, continuing straight to the middle of the soft dorsal, 

 where it unites with the first band of the body, and thus continues to 

 the posterior part of the fin ; caudal orange with scattered irregular 

 black spots ; anal and ventrals greyish, posterior part black ; pectorals 



