LABBlDjE. 395 



the fin is yellow and edged with orange ; other fins yellowish, a 

 band along ventral and sometimes a brown base to pectoral. 



Hob. Andamans to the Malay Archipelago ; attaining a large 

 size. 



3. Genus COSSYPHUS, Cuv. & Val. 

 Syn. Harpe, Lepidoplois, and Pimelometopon, Gill. 



Branchiostegals six. Body oblong, compressed. Snout more 

 or less pointed. The four anterior teeth conical and free ; the 

 lateral teeth in a single row ; a posterior canine is as a rule present. 

 Dorsal fin with more spines than rays ; the anal with more rays 

 than the soft dorsal. Scales of moderate size, those on the cheeks 

 and opercles imbricate ; bases of vertical fins scaled. No enlarged 

 row of scales at base of caudal. Lateral line continuous. 



Geographical Distribution. Nearly all intertropical and adjacent 

 seas. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Orange-red, darkest superiorly 1. C. axillaris, p. 395. 



Reddish, three white spots between the lateral 



line and base of dorsal tin 2. C. diana, p. 396. 



A black blotch below hind edge of dorsal fin, 



another between first three dorsal rays . . 3. C. bilunulatus, p. 396. 



1250. (1.) Cossyphus axillaris. (Fig. 132.) 



Labrus axillaris, Bennett, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 166. 



Cossyphus axillaris, Day, Fish. India, p. 392, pi. Ixxxii, fig. 3 (variety) 

 (see synon.). 



Moonjilli, Tamil. 

 D. 12/10. P. 16. A. 3/12. C. 14. L. 1. 34. L. tr. 5/12. 



Length of head 4, height of body 3^ to 4 in the total length. 

 Eyet, diameter 4 to 4^ in length of head, lj to l!f diam. from 



Fig. 132. Cossyphus axillaris, var. 



end of snout, and 1^ apart. Upper lip thick and with a broad 

 anterior fold. Preopercle finely serrated. Teeth a posterior 



