FAMILY, I— PERCIDJ3. 17 



In numbers 1, 2, 3, the eye is 1 diameter from the end of the snout : in number 4, 3/4 of a diameter : in 

 number 5, lj diameters : and in number 6, 1| diameters from the end of the snout. 



The maxilla reaches to nearly or quite below the hind edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle 

 slightly emarginate, with the angle rounded, the whole being finely serrated, most coarsely so at its angle : sub- 

 and inter- op ercles entire. In small specimens, e. g. 2\ inches long, this species has a spine at its preopercular 

 angle, which becomes absorbed as age advances : in some specimens some rather large denticulations are seen 

 at this place, due to this absorption not having been so rapid as usual. Teeth — canines in both jaws, the outer 

 row in the maxilla, and the inner in the mandible, rather larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines 

 from the third continue of about the same length, from 2/5 to 1/3 of the height of the body : the pectoral longer 

 than the ventral, and equalling the length of the head behind the middle of the orbit : second anal spine the 

 strongest, equal to or not quite so long as the third : caudal rounded. Scales — ctenoid, about 14 rows between the 

 lateral-bine and the base of the sixth dorsal spine. Colours — greyish olive, darkest along the back. Body and 

 head covered with irregularly sized pearly -white spots, whilst a black line exists on the maxilla. Fins dark grey, 

 externally nearly black, the pectoral, ventral, soft dorsal, and anal with a narrow white border : the whole of the 

 dorsal fin white spotted. The colours vary much with age. 



Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. The specimen figured 

 is 6 inches long. 



11. Serranus diacanthus, Plate III, fig. 4. 



Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 319 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 110 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 20. 

 Serranus sexfasciatus, Day, Fish. Malabar, (not Cuv. and Val.) 

 Damba, Sind : Chaandcha, Belooch. 



B. vii, D. iizif, P- 18, V. 1/5, A. ¥ s_, C. 17, L. r. W. L - tr - 19-21/45, Ca3c. pyl. 11. 



Length of head 1/3 to 3/10, of caudal 1/5 to 2/9, height of body 1/4 to 1/5 of the total length. Eyes — 

 diameter 1/4 to 2/9 of the length of head, 1 diameter from the end of snout, and also apart. The maxilla 

 reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit : lower jaw the longer. Vertical limb of preopercle strongly 

 serrated, with two or three coarse teeth at its angle, its lower limb entire : sub- and inter-opercles entire. Three 

 spines on the opercle, the centre of which is the largest. In a young specimen (3 inches long) the serratures at 

 the angle of the preopercle are scarcely enlarged, but at 3| inches in length they commence to become coarser 

 than those along the vertical border. Teeth — one or two canines on either side of each jaw, those in the man- 

 dible being the smaller : outer row in the upper jaw rather stronger than the villiform bands ; inner row in the 

 mandible a little the largest. Fins — dorsal spines rather weak, and being of nearly equal length from the third, 

 which equals two-fifths of the length of the head : pectoral rather longer than the ventral : second anal spine 

 rather longer than the third, and equal to the second of the dorsal fin : caudal rounded. Scales — ctenoid on 

 body, and in about 20 rows between the first dorsal spine and the lateral-line. Ccecal pylori — eleven long ones. 

 Colours — brownish, with a tinge of pink on the back, becoming rose-coloured on the abdomen. Six dark vertical 

 bands, the first crossing the head : the second from the fourth to the sixth dorsal spines passing over the pectoral 

 to the base of the anal : the remaining three take the same direction, the last crossing the free portion of the 

 tail. A dark band passes from the orbit to the angle of the preopercle. Fins darkest at their margins. 

 Occasionally the bands are continued on to the dorsal fin. A specimen in the British Museum has a white edge 

 to the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins. 



Dr. Jerdon, M. J. L. & Science, 1851, p. 129, observes of S. nebulosus, Cuv. & Val. " I procured one 

 specimen of this at Madras and one at Tellicherry." The latter, a copy of the figure of which exists amongst 

 Sir Walter Elliot's drawings, is the fish above described. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago : at Kurrachee I took them 18 inches in length. 



12. Serranus sexfasciatus. 



(Kuhl & v. Hass.) Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 360 : Bleeker, Perc. p. 38 : Giinther, Catal. i, p. 108. 

 Epinephelus sexfasciatus, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. t. 281, Perc. t. iii, fig. 2 & Epinephelini, p. 103. 

 B. vii, D. -B-, p. 17, v. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 85. 



Length of head 3/11, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/4 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 2/9 of 

 length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. The maxilla reaches to below the 

 hind edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle rather coarsely serrated, with two large spinous teeth at its 

 angle, the inferior of which is directed somewhat downwards. Opercular spines well developed. Teeth — small 

 canines in both jaws, the inner row of teeth in the lower jaw, and outer one in the maxilla, longer than the 

 villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines moderately strong, increasing in length to the fourth and fifth, which equal 

 nearly half the length of the head, but are not quite so high as the rays : soft portion of fin, also of the anal, 

 and the caudal rounded ■ pectoral as long as the head excluding the snout : second anal spine stronger but not 

 quite so long as the third. Scales — ctenoid. Colours — brownish, with about six vertical darker bands, about as 

 wide as the ground colour : a few irregular dark spots about the body : dorsal, caudal, and anal yellow, with 

 numerous round black spots, those at the hind edge of the caudal almost forming a black band with a white 

 outer edge : pectoral and ventral greyish. 



I examined two specimens of this species from Japan in the Berlin Museum, the largest being about 

 7 inches in length. This species I have not captured in India, the form I termed S. sexfasciatus being the 



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