896 Description of a collection of Fishes from China. 



longer spines, and a black mark on the lunate margin of the fin 

 membrane, behind the point of each spine. 



The operculum terminates in a narrow scaly point, close over 

 which, there is rather a large-sized sharp spine. The pre-operculum 

 is serrated behind, presenting at the corner and lower margin, five 

 small spines. 



The lower jaw is longer than the upper, the teeth in both jaws 

 are minute and numerous like the pile of velvet. The nostrils have two 

 apertures on each side, close in front of the eyes. The eyes are 

 large, and the orbits smooth-edged, irides dark above. 



The first dorsal has twelve spinous rays, of which the fifth is the 

 longest ; the posterior dorsal has thirteen soft, and one spinous ray. 

 The pectoral is composed of sixteen soft rays. The ventrals which 

 are situated under the pectorals contain each, six soft branching rays, 

 and one smooth sharp spine. The anal contains three spinous, and 

 eight soft rays ; the first spinous ray (not distinctly represented in the 

 drawing,) is very short, and situated close to the base of the second, 

 which is strong and large; the third anal spine is as long, but more slen- 

 der than the second. The caudal is slightly forked, and contains seven- 

 teen rays, so that the number of the fin rays will stand thus : 



D. 12:— 4: P. : A. f : C. 17. 



The fins on the lower parts of the body are white, the caudal and 

 posterior dorsal tinged with grey. 



There are five rays in the branchial membrane. 



This species would seem to be very common in the China 

 seas. Dr. Playfair found it both at Ningpo and Chusan. 



It is one of the most beautiful, and no doubt one of the 

 most useful of the perch-like fishes, as it would seem to attain 

 a large size, and to afford the fishermen much employment 

 at certain seasons. 



Trigla spinosa, /. xxii.,^^. 2. 



Trigla alata, Gm. 



This species, which is allied to T. Lyra_, is distinguished 

 by a spine on either side of the occiput or nape, a single 



