TILAPIA SPARRMANII.— Smith.* 



Pisces. — Plate V. 



T. capite, corpore antice, abdomineque subroseis, purpureo-tinctis ; corpore postice pallide roseo-flavo, 

 fasciis transversis viridibus, variegato; pinnis dorsali, anali, caudalique pallide viridibus, maculis pur- 

 pureis fascias irregulares formantibus notatis, marginibus flavis. 



Longitudo, 4 unc. 6 lin. 



Colour, &c. — The head, the body in front of the pectoral fins, and the 

 belly, a delicate rosy red, variegated with slight tints of purple ; the general 

 colour of the other parts of the body intermediate between rose-red and cream- 

 yellow. On the sides, six or seven vertical bars of a pale green colour, and 

 between them some pale ultra marine spots, which vary in number in differ- 

 ent specimens. The hinder margins of the scales, particularly of those 

 towards the dorsal fin, edged with olive brown. The striae forming the lateral 

 line, are light greenish brown, and not readily seen in fresh specimens. 

 Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, pale grass green, the first margined superiorly, 

 the second inferiorly, and the last posteriorly, with saffron-yellow, and all 

 barred more or less regularly with oblique or vertical bands, composed of small 

 subquadrangular spots of a doll purple colour, those of the tail being best 

 defined, and almost disposed in vertical rows. In addition to the purple spots, 

 the dorsal fin has also three blackish spots towards the hinder parts of its 



* Generic characters of Tilapia. — Form oblong, subovate, laterally compressed. Head, rather sbort, and 

 tapering anteriorly ; mouth small, and opening directly in front ; lips pulpy and soft. Teeth short, slender, 

 and 'rather widest at their points, which are either bifid or imperfectly trifid ; those of the tipper jaw disposed 

 in three rows, all upon the intermaxillary bones ; those of the lower in two ; the teeth of the front row of 

 each jaw largest and most regular ; no palatine teeth. Nostrils small, single, and situated above and slightly 

 in front of the eyes. Eyes moderately large. Operculum posteriorly, slightly waved ; the covering of the 

 suborbitary bones and the preoperculum perforated by several small pores. Two rudimentary fossae on 

 each side immediately above the upper extremity of the gills, with which they communicate. Gill rays 

 five. Upper surface of the head anteriorly covered with smooth skin, rest of head and body coated with 

 large semicircular scales. Lateral line interrupted, the anterior portion which commences at upper ex- 

 tremity of operculum, is much nearer to the back than the posterior portion, which runs along the middle of 

 the body. Dorsal Jin single, the hinder or soft rays longest. Stomach a cul de sac ; no cosca ; intestines 

 of nearly equal calibre throughout, very long, slender and rolled upon themselves. Ovaria subcylindrical. 

 For the form of the stomach, intestines, &c, see Plate: — a, two teeth of the upper jaw; b, two of the 

 under jaw; c, viscera in situ ; </, stomach. 



