BEEYCID^E. 97 



lines which posteriorly end in spiny points. Suborbital ring of 

 bones narrow, fluted and serrated in their whole extent. Pre- 

 opercle likewise fluted along its vertical limb, having a strong spine 

 as long as the orbit at its angle and serrated along both margins. 

 Opercle evenly fluted, armed with two spines (the lower the shorter) 

 and its outer edge strongly serrated ; sub- and interopercles fluted 

 and denticulated ; shoulder-bones denticulated. Snout with two 



Fig. 44. Holocentrum rubrum. 



sharp nipple-shaped spines on the preorbital and intermediate 

 serrations ; no spines at nostrils. Fins dorsal spines strong, 

 3rd to 5th longest, but not so high as soft portion of fin ; third anal 

 spine very strong. Colour in the youny silvery white, with longi- 

 tudinal dull rosy bands from the opercles, the second and third 

 coalescing. In the adult red, with seven or eight silvery bands. 

 Head more or less rosy, as are also the fins. Occasionally there is 

 a little dark colour about the latter. ..... 



Nab. Eed Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India, Malay Archi- 

 pelago, and beyond. 



847. (5.) Holocentrum sammara. 



Scisena sammara, Forsk. Descr. Anim. p. 48, no. 53. 

 Holocentrum sammara, Cuv. fy Vol. H. N. Poiss. iii, p. 216 ; Day 

 Fish. India, p. 17(5, Suppl. p. 788 (see synon.). 



D.10 | 1/11-12. P. 14. A. 4/7-8. L.I. 39-40. L.tr.3/7. Vert.11/16. 



Length of head 3| to 3|, height of body 3| to 4 in the total 

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

 end of snout and also apart ; the interorbital space T 3 to ^ of 

 length of head. The lower jaw the longer. Both limbs of pre- 

 opercle serrated in their entire extent ; length of preopercular 

 spine about 1 of diameter of orbit. The external edges of all the 

 opercles more or less serrated; two spines on the opercle, the 

 upper of which is as large as the preopercular one, the lower rather 

 smaller. Preorbital denticulations strong; suborbital likewise 



