41 8 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTERTGJ1. 



1289. (1.) Coris formosus. 



Labrus formosus, Bennett, Fish. Ceylon, p. 16, pi. 16. 



Coris formosa, Day, Fish. India, p. 407, pi. Ixxxvi, fig. 5 (see 



synon.). 

 Rattoo-girawah, Singhalese. 



D. 9/12. P. 14. A. 3/12. C. 14. L. 1. 74-84. L. tr. 8/35. 



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

 Eyes diameter 6 in length of head, 2 diam. from end of snout, 

 and lj apart. Teeth a posterior canine at angle of mouth. Fins 

 first spine of dorsal fin elongate. Caudal rounded. Colour 

 bluish grey with circular black spots ; head yellow, with two 

 oblique blue bands ascending towards origin of dorsal, ojie from 

 snout passing through eye, the other parallel, running below eye. 

 Dorsal and anal fins brown, the former with a red margin and with 

 two green lines running within the red ; black dots between the 

 rays. Anal with a narrow green edge and a narrow green intra- 

 marginal line ; a series of green dots within the margin. Inner 

 half of caudal red, outer yellowish white. Or the lines on the 

 head may be violet, with but one ascending from the eye ; body 

 brownish violet, covered posteriorly with scattered blue spots. 

 Fins yellowish, dorsal and anal with a blue margin and a blue 

 black-edged intramarginal band, blue spots along bases of fins. A 

 reddish vertical band sometimes occurs on middle third of caudal 

 fin. 



Hal. East coast of Africa, Ceylon, MaUy Archipelago and 

 beyond. 



1290. (2.) Coris aygula. 



Coris aygula, Lacep. If. N. Poiss. iii, p. 96, t. iv, fig. 1 ; Day, Fish. 



India, p. 408 (not pi. Ixxxviii, fig. 6) (see synon.). 

 Tik-yiraioah, Singhalese. 



D.9/12. P.M. A. 3/12. C. 15. L. 1. 60. L. tr. 6/28. 



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

 length. Eyes small in adult, a prominent' knob on dorsal profile 

 above them. Upper lip broad, with folds, and not continuous 

 with the lower one, which is pendent. Teeth a posterior canine 

 if present small and mostly concealed. Pirn anterior dorsal 

 spines elevated in adult; ventrals elongate; caudal rounded. 

 Colour the immature have head and anterior part of body olive- 

 brown, occasionally with two brown blotches, small blue spots over 

 the head, and a black spot on the opercle ; a black axillary spot and 

 a pale cross band opposite end of pectoral ; behind buff, sometimes 

 with red or brown blotches on back and free portion of tail. 

 V ertical fins brown, with black spots and white edges, or with a 

 wide yellow margin. The adult darkish or deep green, occasionally 

 two or three red angular bauds across the neck ; edges of preopercle 



