1060 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Oct. 



orange with a black band across the root, the centre and the point. 

 Iris golden orange. 



D 10/23, C 171, A 3/7, V 1/5, P 17, Br. VII. 



Habit. — Sea ofPinang 



Southern coast of Ceylon. 



Total length : 5f inches. 



As observed by M. M. Cuvier and Valenciennes this species differs 

 from Plectorhynchus lineatus, (Linne,)* in the greater length of the 

 second, third and fourth dorsal spines, which equals or even slightly 

 exceeds one half of the greatest vertical diameter of the body, and in 

 the comparative shortness of the anterior dorsal spine, which is one 

 third of the length of the second. The first anal spine scarcely exceeds 

 one fourth of the second, which as well as the third, equals the length 

 of the tenth dorsal spine, and slightly exceeds one third of the greatest 

 vertical diameter of the body. The number of fin rays given by 

 M. M. Cuvier and Valenciennes : D 12/16? A 2/7, appears to be in- 

 correct. In fresh state the prevailing, or ground colours of the fish 

 are orange and yellowish white. In the absence of a detailed description 

 of Bodian cuvier, Bennett, {Fishes of Ceylon, 13,) the species cannot be 

 determined. If the relative proportions of the dorsal spines as represent- 

 ed in the figure, are correct, the fish would appear to be P. lineatus. 



A single individual was observed at Pinang in 1845. 



Plectorhynchus balteatus, (Kuhl and Van Hasselt.) 

 Diagramma balteatum, K and V. H. Cuv. and Val. V. 316. 



Bright yellow and black striped ; upper part of the back and sides 

 black : a bright yellow narrow longitudinal band from the occiput to 

 the commencement of the soft dorsal fin, sending a short vertical por- 

 tion to the third dorsal spine ; a second yellow broader band from 

 above the orbit straight over the posterior part of the soft dorsal ; 

 next a black band from the muzzle, through the eye, across the cheek 

 and opercle, straight to the caudal over which it continues ; next a 

 yellow band, bordered beneath by a pale bluish black, following the 

 abdomen to the caudal ; cheeks and lower half of opercles yellow 



* Syn. Seba III. XXVII. Fig. 18.— Perca diagramma, Linne, Syst. 1319.— 

 Anthias diagramma, Bloch, 101, PI. 9. — Scicena lineata, Lin. Mus. A. F. 1. 66. — 

 Perca lineata, Linne, Syst. 1319. — Grammistes lineatus, Bloch, S. 182. — Dia- 

 gramma lineatum, Cuv. and Val. V. 309. 



