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YELLOW SKTJLPIN. 
nuTTierous. Eyes on the top of the head, near each other j the 
vision lateral, but on dissection the muscles of the eyes are 
seen to be so placed as to roll the ball upwards, but not 
downward. The tongue thin and free. Gill membrane 
fastened doAVn except at a small orifice behind the eye; on the 
margin of the anterior border of the gill-cover is a strong 
flattened spine, having three points directed obliquely upward. 
The body is narrower than the head, depressed, and channeled, 
but round at the sides, becoming slender towards the tail. 
Dorsal fins two, the first ray of the first being so long as to 
overlap the tail, slender, and (in the example described) five 
inches and a half long; the rays, four in number, decreasing 
in length in regular progression, on which account Eacepede 
launches out into a fanciful analogy between them and the 
cords of the lyre, from which the fish has obtained its trivial 
name. The second dorsal is broad, but does not approach the 
tail, its ten rays rising above the fin, but bound down on its 
border, the two last bound together, and longer than the 
others. The anal fin answers to the second dorsal in the 
number and nature of the rays, but is placed nearer the tail; 
the latter organ rounded, with nine divided rays projecting 
beyond the membrane. A process in front of the anal fin. 
Pectorals with nineteen rays; those of the ventrals five, fan-shaped. 
Lateral line begins high on the back, irregular at first, and 
then straight; when dry this line appears like a fine cord, 
and along its course at regular distances are short threads 
proceeding obliquely backward, appearing the discharging ducts 
of mucous glands. The colours are beautiful, but subject to 
some variety: top of the head and along the back dusky 
yellow; light golden yellow on the cheeks and sides, with two 
regular stripes and some spots of azure; an ocellate spot near 
the beginning of the lateral line, the centre yellowish brown, 
the circle a fine blue. Dorsal fins golden yellow; on the first 
dorsal stripes of azure run in the direction of the rays; at the 
bottom a line ranges along parallel with the back. On the 
second dorsal four longitudinal azure lines; tail with irregular 
lines of the same. Pectorals yellow; ventrals dark, in some 
examples with stripes of yellow and blue. The ventral is 
united by a membrane to the pectoral. Belly white; the thorax 
black. 
