264 
red BANDFISfl. 
size lias been seen nearly round, but another, only four inebes 
and a half in length, was equally compressed with the larger 
individuals. The head slopes in front from behind the eyes, 
which are large and lateral. Angle of the mouth depressed, 
the gape considerable, mystache wide; teeth scarcely regular, 
long and sharp, expanding from the jaws. Lateral line obscurely 
marked, but visible by the insertion of muscles; and along the 
root of the dorsal fin a row of small bony processes. No scales 
visible on the fore part of the body, but discernible near the 
tail. The dorsal fin begins from above the gill-covers, and 
continues of about the same breadth until near the tail, where 
it becomes narrower, as does the anal fin from the vent; and 
both are united to the caudal fin, the root of which is well 
marked and distinct; the form of this fin long-lancet-shaped. 
Pectorals round, reaching more than half-way to the vent; the 
belly being but of short dimensions. The dorsal fin has seventy 
rays, the anal sixty; tail with twenty rays, those of the middle 
in this example two inches long, and on the side less than a 
fourth of that length. Vcntrals thoracic, pointed, the rays 
fastened down with a membrane through half their length. 
The colour of this fish is usually a brilliant red or scarlet, 
which is deepest on the back ; the belly pale. In some instances 
the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are much more extended than 
in others; and then they are marked with stripes of much 
beauty, so that the appearance of the fish has countenanced the 
opinion that there is more than one European species. Such 
a one is described by Rafinesque, under the name of C. mar- 
ginata, but the figure he gives is below contempt. The following 
is a description of this variety of the Bandfish; the example 
eleven inches in length, with the general form of the species; 
the breadth of the dorsal and anal fins remarkable, and the 
extremity of the caudal fin lengthened out into a thread. The 
dorsal fin begins anterior to the border of the gill-covers, fourth 
ray longer than the three anterior rays. Body covered along 
its posterior portion with deeper purple-looking scales, which 
do not touch each other. Pectorals begin under the second 
ray of the dorsal, broad and round. Upper portion of the head 
and jaws red, on the sides pale yellow. Ventral fins and belly 
pearly white; pectorals pale red. Membrane of the doasal and 
anal fins pale yellow, with red rays, and a light purple border 
