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four first rays are thick and bifid, but not branched ; the first is 
even simple. The dorsal is large ; its spine is much shorter than 
the rays, and in the male the first of these prolongates in a very 
long filament ; this is bifid, the internal limb being much shorter 
than the outer one ; the adipose is covered with scales. 
In a female specimen, I find a rather long filamentary appen- 
dice inserted on the posterior edge of the maxillary, over the 
angle. Having seen no other specimen of that sex, I do not 
know if this is accidental. 
The colours of this fish are really magnificent. The upper 
parts are of a greyish blue, with fine red, orange, and yellow 
tinges on the sides of the head. On the back, extend rather 
numerous transverse blotches of a fine scarlet carmine ; these 
alternate with others which start from the lateral line, and 
extend towards the belly without attaining it. The dorsal is 
yellow, marbled with crimson ; the adipose are purple at the base, 
yellow in their middle, and bordered with red on their external 
edge. The caudal is yellow, spotted with the most beautiful 
crimson ; the anal is white, with orange bands ; pectorals yellow, 
with transversal red spots ; ventrals yellow, with purple spots, 
and the extremity of the rays are pink. 
This description is taken from a female specimen caught in the 
mouth of May, 1871. In the same month, and a few days after, 
a male fish was brought to the market. The colours were less 
brilKant and darker ; the upper parts were almost entirely purple ; 
the caudal is of the last colour, with some marbled spots grey ; 
the lateral sides are of a rosy red ; the long filament of the 
dorsal, and also the straight rays and their membranes, are of 
the same colour ; the remainder of the dorsal is white, with 
purple rounded blotches in considerable number ; the adipose is 
purple. 
These are the only two specimens I have seen ; one was called 
by a fishmonger Bock Gurnet, and the other Flying Gurnet. 
The length of the longest is about 19^ inches, and the other 
about an inch shorter. 
Nota — Since this was written I have seen another specimen 
with the long dorsal filament ; its colours were not brilliant. 
