92 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



black spot at top of eye ; numerous pearl-white spots on upper 

 half of body. Dorsal tin spotted with brown ; caudal with four or 

 five vertical bars and a black outer edge. Spinous portion of anal 

 with large black spots, the soft irregularly lineated ; pectorals 

 orange. In specimens over 7 or 8 inches in length the markings 

 on the fins generally become obsolete, the white spots on the body 

 decrease in number and have a blue tinge. The shoulder-spot 

 becomes dark, but the spot on the upper edge of the eye remains. 

 Hob. Common along the coasts of India, attaining at least 9 

 inches in length. 



840. (9.) Teuthis stellata. 



Scarus stellatus, Forsk. Dcscr. Anim. p. 20, no. 10. 

 Teuthis stellata, Gunther, Catal. iii, p. 320; Day, Fish. India, p. 368 

 (see synon.). 



D. 13/10. P. 16. V. 1/3/1. A. 7/9. C. 19. 



Length of head nearly 4, height of body about 3 in total length. 

 Eyes diameter 3 in length of head, 1^ cliam. from end of snout, 

 and 1| apart. Fins fourth dorsal spine the highest, soft dorsal 

 and anal rather pointed ; last anal spine the longest ; caudal 

 deeply lobed, the upper the longer. Colour greyish, covered all 

 over with small angular spots of a purplish-brown cblour ; a 

 greenish-yellow spot in front of dorsal fin ; a dark shoulder-spot 

 sometimes present ; dorsal and anal fins spotted with brown, 

 border of soft rays and of caudal yellowish. 



Hal. Red Sea, through those of India. 



Family X. BERYCIM1. 



Holocentrince, pt., Swainson. 



Branchiostegals from four to eight ; pseudobranchiae present. 

 Form of body oblong, or rather elevated and compressed. Opercles 

 more or less armed. Head with large muciferous cavities. Eyes 

 large, lateral. Cleft of mouth more or less oblique, extending to 

 the sides of the muzzle. Teeth more or less villiform in both jaws, 

 and usually so on the palate. Ventrals thoracic ; each with either 

 more or less than five soft rays. Scales ctenoid, seldom bony or 

 absent ; none on the head. 



Geographical Distribution. Wide, many of the forms living at 

 great depths. 



/tyrtopsw of Indian Genera. 



No large spine at angle of preopercle 1. MYRTPEISTIS. 



A long, strong spine at angle of preopercle 2. HOLOCENTIU'M. 



