DR PARNELL'S ACCOUNT OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF BRITISH FISHES. 147 



rior margin of the operculum, and ending in a line with the last ray of the anal 

 fin. Pectorals and ventrals commencing on the same line. Middle ray of the tail 

 not half SO long as the longest ray of the same fin. First flexible rays longer 

 than the terminating spiny rays. General form resembling that of the sea-bream, 

 but not so deep in proportion to its length. Dorsal line rounded, descending ob- 

 liquely from the nape to the nostrils, from thence more suddenly to the lips. Scales 

 large — seventy forming the lateral line. Six and a-half in an oblique row be- 

 tween it and the first ray of the dorsal fin. Lateral line strongly marked, com- 

 mencing at the upper part of the operculum, and taking its course parallel to the 

 curvature of the back. Spiny rays of the dorsal fin sharp and stout ; the first 

 spine short, about half the length of the second ; the fourth the longest ; the re- 

 mainder gradually decreasing in height to the commencement of the flexible rays. 

 Jaws nearly equal, the under rather the shorter. Anterior teeth small and nu- 

 merous, disposed in many rows ; the outer row, composed of thirty teeth, longer 

 and more bent than those within. Molars large, disposed in three rows in eacli 

 jaw. (In one of the specimens but two rows were perceptible, and these irregu- 

 larly placed.) The number of the fin rays are — 



D. 12 spinous, 12 soft. P. 16. V. 8. A. 3 spinous, 11 soft. C. 20. 

 The intervening membranes of the caudal, and of the last two rays of the dor- 

 sal and anal fins, are covered with small, thin scales, diminishing in size as they 

 approach the summits of the rays. Colours : Body pale silvery-red. Dorsal and 

 caudal fins rose-red. Ventral and anal fins paler. Space between the eyes red- 

 dish-bro\^Ti. In front of the eyes, and on the lower half of the prseoperculum, me- 

 tallic gray. On the upper part of the base of the pectorals is a dark violet-co- 

 loured spot, very conspicuous even in the dried specimen. 



The British breams with which the Pagellus acarne is most likely to be con- 

 founded, are the Pagellus centrodontus, Pagellus erytlirinus, and the Pagrus 'cul- 

 garis. 



It differs from P. centrodontus, in the eye being smaller, the molars larger, and 

 in having a dark spot on the base of each pectoral fin, which the P. centrodontus 

 never exhibits. 



It differs from the P. erytlirinus in having the origin of the lateral line 

 straight, whereas in the P. erytlirinus it is suddenly bent ; in the eye being larger ; 

 and in the pectoral spot, which is never found in the P. erytlirinus. 



The Pagellus acarne is distinguished from the Pagrus xiulgaris, by the form 

 and arrangement of the anterior teeth : the teeth of the P. acarne being about 

 thu'ty in number in the first row on the upper jaw, and nearly of equal size. 

 The Pagrus has never more than six teeth in front, which are much longer than 

 those within, besides shewing no pectoral spot. 



