V 
PLATE LXXXIX. 
possibly occur in which they are not perceptible. Those marks, 
however, as before intimated, do not occur precisely as Lin- 
nasus mentions ; several specimens that we had an opportunity of 
inspecting on the coast of Wales, almost immediately after their 
capture, enables us to speak more decidedly on this point, than if our 
observations had been confined to less recent specimens. Immediately 
over each eye, is a plain, semi-lunar, or crescent formed space, scaly 
like the rest of the fish, but rather of a paler colour, and which nearly 
approximate in the middle of the forehead ; those two species are 
circumscribed by a brilliant shining margin of a filmy texture, free 
from scales, of a moderate breadth, and possessing the colour as well 
as lustre, of burnished gold. Other parts of the head are glossed 
with this metallic splendour, and especially at the lower sutures of 
the gill covers ; but the margins of the spots abovementioned are the 
most conspicuous. The dusky spot at the base of the lateral hne 
Was of a rich purplish hue. Linnaeus notices a black spot in the tail 
of this fish, which we think Bloch may be correct in deeming ac- 
cidental. Catti could not perceive any such mark, neither did anV 
such spot appear in either of the specimens that have fallen under our 
observation. ' 
- The figure in the annexed plate is copied from a specimen twenty- ' 
one inches in length. In the dorsal fin, which extends nearly the whole 
length of the back, are thirteen spiny rays, and eleven soft ones , 
the pectoral fin is long and pointed, and contains eleven rays ; tbe 
ventral six rays ; the anal three spines, and eleven soft rays ; 
the tail, which is furcated, twelve long rays, and four short ooc® 
laterally. 
