100 ACCOUNT OF FIVE RARE SPECIES 



large and ovate, consisting of twelve rays reaching 

 as far as the vent : the ventral fins, two uncon- 

 nected rays : the dorsal fin extends from the head 

 to the tail, consisting of thirty rays, and appears 

 like two distinct fins, by reason of the slope to the 

 thirteenth ray, which is not above half the length 

 of the anterior ones, and the sudden elongation of 

 the fourteenth ray ; this fin is very broad, and in 

 one specimen there was an ovate black spot be- 

 tween the first and second ray, and another ob- 

 scure one between the next rays, but this is not a 

 constant character. The anal fin is equally broad, 

 and extends from the vent to the tail, consisting 

 of eighteen rays usually margined with black, and 

 tipped with white : caudal fin slightly rounded, 

 composed of fourteen rays. The colour above is • 

 generally olive-green spotted with pale-blue shaded 

 to white ; the belly white, and the pectoral fins 

 spotted with orange. 



Not fewer than eight or ten of this species have 

 come under my inspection, the greater part of 

 which did not exceed an inch and a half in 

 length ; but two at present before me measure 

 nearly two inches and a half, and differ in nothing 

 but the spots on the dorsal fin. There is no trian- 

 gular lump on the head, as described by Mr Pen- 

 nant ; nor is the crest capable of being erected, at 

 least no voluntary motion could be observed while 

 the fish was examined alive in sea- water ; but this 

 appendage is invariably transverse, and generally 



