94 TELEOSTEI. ACANTI1OPTEKYGII. 



the sub- and the interopercles serrated. Fins dorsal spines weak; 

 second dorsal higher than the first ; fourth anal spine the longest, 

 but not so strong as the third. Colour scarlet, edges of scales 

 violet, more especially above lateral line ; longitudinal bands, alter- 

 nately lighter and darker along each row of scales. First dorsal 

 black, or black with a light longitudinal band, or simply rose- 

 coloured ; the other fins pinkish, with the outer third of the soft 

 dorsal, anal, and caudal lobes black, the black area sometimes 

 reduced to a mere spot. A deep black spot behind the gill-opening, 

 a dark mark in the axilla. In some rare instances a dark spot may 

 exist on the upper edge of the eye. 



Hob. East coast of Africa, seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago 

 and beyond. Not nearly so common as M. murdjan. 



842. (2.) Myripristis murdjan. 



Scisena murdjan, Forsk. Descr. Anim. p. 48, no. 52. 

 Myripristis murdjan, Day, Fish. India, p. 170, pi. xli, fig. 2. 



B. viii. D. 10 | 1/14-15. A. 4/12-13. L. 1, 28-30. L. tr.3|/7|. 



Length of head 3 to 3|, height of body from 3 to 3| in the 

 total length. Eyes diameter 2| to 2| in length of head, 3 diam. 

 from end of snout, and about | apart. Lower jaw slightly the 

 longer, having a rough, nipple-like projection on either side of 

 the symphysis. Under surface of lower jaw furrowed by ten or 

 twelve grooves ; the maxilla, pre-, sub-, and interopercles also 

 grooved. Preopercle serrated in its whole extent. Interopercle 

 finely denticulated ; opercle with a moderately strong spine, having 

 a few denticulations above it, and the whole of its outer margin 

 below it serrated. Subopercle and shoulder-scale serrated. Upper 

 surface of the head roughened by three or four raised lines, which, 

 passing backwards, divide and subdivide, each terminating in 

 a small spine. Teeth villiform in the jaws, with an external row, 

 widely separated, larger and conically rounded, 3 on either side 

 slightly the largest, and rounded at their extremities, none on the 

 tongue. Fins dorsal spines increasing in length to third, which 

 is about equal to three next, interspinous membrane rather deeply 

 emarginate, front portion of second dorsal higher than first. Third 

 anal spine the strongest, but the fourth the longest. Colour 

 roseate, gill-openings deep brownish black, or else like coagulated 

 blood, a dark mark in the axilla. A dark vertical band through 

 the eye, sometimes confined to above the pupil. Dorsal, caudal, 

 and anal fins with milk-white outer edges ; a dark mark, often deep 

 black, may be present or absent at the highest points of the soft 

 dorsal and anal fins, also at the tips of the caudal. Earely there 

 is a dark mark along the first dorsal. Outer edge of ventral 

 white. 



Hob. Eed Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay 

 Archipelago and beyond. My longest specimen measures 11 1 

 inches. Very common at Madras, especially about February. 



