20 
ELLECK. 
The Elleck is usually about a foot in length, but has been 
known to measure eighteen inches. The head is high, narrow 
on the summit, with a depression between the eyes, which, 
therefore, are close together; sloping thence to the snout, which, 
is cut in on the front, and slightly divided, projecting over the 
mouth; teeth small and rather numerous. The body irregularly 
round, narrower on the back, and more slender towards the 
tail. Above each eye an obscure row of spines; behind the 
head a rough spine, another on the hinder gill-cover, and a 
third above the origin of the pectoral fin; a line of low 
tubercles runs along the side of the root of the rays of the 
dorsal fin; the lateral line rough from a series of obscure 
plates. The first dorsal fin with spinous rays, the first shorter 
than the second, and having a rough front. Pectorals scarcely 
reaching to the vent. Tail straight, except that sometimes 
the outer ray above and below is longest. The head, back, 
and sides, with the dorsal and caudal fins, are a bright red, 
sometimes darker and sometimes dusky on the back, with 
occasionally a few golden spots. Pectorals, ventrals, and finger 
processes a paler red, tinged with yellow; anal whitish, tinged 
with red. Iris golden or orange yellow, with a circle of red 
or crimson. 
An example of unusual size came under my inspection, that 
was so stout as to be thicker through its body than deep; the 
colours bright, with the back, head, and sides covered thickly 
with golden spots about the size of a large pea. 
Fin rays — first dorsal nine, second dorsal eighteen, pectoral 
ten, (bifid,) ventral six, anal seventeen, caudal fan-shaped. 
The two last rays of the second dorsal and anal in some 
examples spring from one root. 
