ABROSTOMUS UMBRATUS.*— Smith. 



Pisces.— Plate XII.— No. 1. 



A. supra viridi-purpureus ; lateribus pallide cinereo-purpureis, maculis flavis variegatis; partibus 

 inferioribus lactifloribus ; pinnis dorsali caudalique flavo-maculatis ; labiis carnosis; ore infra spec- 

 tante sub apice nasi posito ; cirris quatuor. 



Longitudo ad apicem pinnse caudalis, 8 unc. 4 lin. 



Colour. — The upper surface of the head, the centre of the back and the 

 upper parts of the sides, towards the head, a tint intermediate between 

 reddish orange and brownish red (a sort of greenish purple) the remaining 

 portion of the sides above the lateral line a pale brownish purple-red, 

 heightened with a tint of reddish orange. Below the lateral line the ground 

 colour is a pale, dull pearl-grey, clouded here and there, particularly towards 

 the head, with pale crimson-red. In addition to the colours described the 

 back and sides are mottled with blotches or spots of gallstone-yellow ; above 

 the lateral line these mottlings are very numerous and generally in the form 

 of irregular, oblong, vertical blotches, below the line they are smaller, rather 

 scanty, and somewhat circular. The sides are also variegated with several 

 small clusters of minute dots of a chocolate-red colour. The belly and under 

 parts are a dull cream-yellow. The sides of the head in front of the gill- 

 covers variegated with pearl grey, yellow of various tints, and pale brownish 

 red ; gill-covers lilac-purple clouded with dull azure-blue and gallstone 

 yellow. Lips and cirri pale flesh-red tinted with lilac-purple. Dorsal and 

 caudal fins flesh-red, strongly tinted towards the base with brownish purple- 

 red, and spotted with gallstone-yellow, the rays lightest, — the dorsal fin 

 besides is crossed about midway between its base and apex by an obscure 

 azure-blue bar. The pectoral, ventral, and anal fins pearl-grey, shaded with 



* Char. Subgen. Abrostomi. — Figure oblong- ovate; head broad posteriorly; snout pulpy, somewhat 

 depressed, and its anterior outline semicircular ; mouth situated under the snout, small, transverse and 

 directed downwards ; lips full and pulpy, the lower one with a membranous fold internally like a second 

 lip ; four cirri, two dependent from upper lip, one of them at each side of snout, and one from each angle of 

 mouth ; nostrils double. Branchial rays three ; lateral line deflexed, slightly interrupted and consisting 

 of a series of short tubes ; dorsal fin about midway between snout and caudal fin ; scales small or of 

 moderate size ; intestinal canal very long, slender, and rolled on itself. 



