BODIANUS. BODIAN. 



Generic Character. 



Habitus Percse. 



Opercula squamosa, serrata, 



aculeata. 

 Squama (pluribus) lgeves. 



Habit of the genus Perca. 

 Gill-covers scaly, serrated, 



and aculeated. 

 Scales (in most species) 



smooth. 



With divided or forked tails. 



PURPLE-BACKED BODIAN. 



Bodianus Bodianus. B. luteus, dorso purpureo, 

 Gold-yellow Bodian, with purple back. 

 Bodianus Bodianus. Block. 



JLiENGTH about fourteen inches : shape some- 

 what like that of a trout : colour yellow, each scale 

 being deeply edged or tipped with orange colour : 

 back purplish rose-colour, with the scales tipped 

 with blue : fins lanceolate : tail nearly even in the 

 middle, but running into a lanceolate tip at each 

 side. Native of the South American seas. 



