the Ichthyology of Australia. 



25 



Serranus crapao (Cuv.St VaL), The Crapao. 



S err anus crapao, Cuv. & Val. iii. p. 494. 

 Crapao, Malagese name. (Ditto.) 

 No. 1. Mr. Gilbert's collection. 



Mr. Gilbert states that " this fish inhabits the shallow parts 

 of Port Essington." The specimen possesses the characters 

 ascribed to the S. crapao, which was taken by M. Reynaud 

 in the roadstead of Batavia. 



In general it bears a close resemblance to S. Gilberti, having the 

 same very small scales on the under jaw, snout, and cheek. There 

 exists, however, a cluster of minute scales on the maxillary, which 

 I could not detect in S. Gilberti ; the opercular scales are somewhat 

 larger than in that species, and the under jaw is a little longer. The 

 preoperculum is rather more rounded at the angle, there being no 

 distinct lobe there, but merely a slight change in the curve embra- 

 cing the five lower teeth. The upper limb is finely denticulated, the 

 teeth becoming gradually larger towards the angle. Some very 

 slight crenatures may be perceived on the lower limb. The middle 

 opercular spine is flat and scarcely pungent, and more than its own 

 length distant from the tip of the gill-flap. The upper and under 

 spines are buried among the scales, and are but just perceptible. 

 The interoperculum and suboperculum are perfectly entire. The 

 spinous dorsal is even, and rather lower than the soft portion of the 

 fin. The third and six following spines are of the same height ; the 

 two last are but very little shorter, and they are a little taller than 

 the second, which is twice as high as the first. The second anal spine 

 is rather stronger than the third one, but it is not so long by about 

 one-eighth part. The vertical soft fins and the pectoral are about as 

 much rounded as in the >S. merra. The scales on the fins are like- 

 wise the same, but those on the body are rather more strongly ciliated. 

 The dental surfaces of the jaws are more strongly brush-formed, form- 

 ing pretty broad bands towards the symphysis ; but on the limbs of 

 the intermaxillaries the teeth are short, curved, and not very slender, 

 and there is an exterior even row of short conical ones, not rising 

 above the lips. On the limbs of the lower jaw the teeth are all 

 curved, and longer and stronger than in merra, and there is no ex- 

 terior row of conical ones. There are two or three canine teeth near 

 the symphysis, above and below, not much stronger than the rest. 

 The vomerine teeth are similar to those of the upper jaw, short, 

 curved, and moderately strong. The palate bones have been cut away. 



The colours of the dried skin have evidently faded greatly ; but the 

 whole body, the gill-covers, cheeks, and lower jaw appear to have 

 been marked with dark spots, generally roundish, but not very ex- 

 actly defined, nor disposed in any regular order. Their diameter is 

 less than half that of the spots of S. stellans, and they are much 

 less crowded. Four irregular blotches, of considerable size, range 

 along the base of the dorsal. The anal and ventrals appear dark 

 towards their tips, and traces of vertical bars or dark blotches are 

 visible near the distal extremity of the caudal. There are also some 

 dark shades on the top of the head and ascending limb of the pre- 



