SUPPLEMENT, 1888. 
781 
some small specimens of a remarkable percoid form at Madras tbat I termed Pnaca?i- 
thichtliys Madraspatensis, but wMcb are tlie young of Serranus latifasciatus. I bave 
figured below in outline tke bead and contiguous parts of tbe body three times tbe 
natural size, from a specimen 1‘6 inches long. 
In this instance we see a preoperculum with a strong serrated spine at its angle somewhat 
as observed in the genus Priacanthus, the development of which, and the rate at which 
it becomes atrophied with age being most probably factors in the amount of protuberance at 
that spot in older fi^sh. There is likewise a small spine on the sub-opercle, while it is very 
peculiar that the ventral spine is strongly serrated internally similar to a siluroid. 
This figure is from a specimen sent by Mr. Thurston from Madras, and delineated the 
natural size, 3 inches long, but in which the fifth dorsal spine Is abnormally shortened, 
giving somewhat the appearance of two spinous dorsal fins. The serrated spine at the 
angle of the preopercle is now only represented by coarse denticulations, the ventral spine 
is smooth, and the fish has assumed the form it subsequently retains. The colours are not 
yet similar to those of the adult, the bands along the body change as described under 
Serranus morrhua and the black bands on the caudal fin are eventually represented by 
more or less black spots (see Plate Y, fig. 4). 
Sereantjs polleni. 
PJpmephelus ptoUeni, Bleeker, Pish. Reunion Versl. Kon. Akad. Wet. 2nd Rks. ii, 336, and 
Poisson Madagascar et Reunion, p. 19, t. vii. 
B. vii, D. P. 17, V. 1/5, A. 3/9, C. 17, L. 1. 115-120. 
Length of head 3|, of caudal fin 7, height of body 3f in the total length. Eyes — ■ 
diameter 6 in the length of the head, 1-g- diameters from the end of the snout. Preopercle 
serrated, most coarsely so along its lower edge. The posterior edge of the maxilla reaches 
to somewhat behind the hind edge of the orbit. Teeth — canines somewhat large. Fins — 
dorsal spines increasing in length to the fourth, the posterior ones four-fifths as high as the 
rayed portion of the fin, which latter is rounded posteriorly. Second anal spine some- 
what the longest. Caudal fin slightly rounded. Scales — 9 or 10 rows between the base of 
the sixth dorsal spine and the lateral-line. Colours — closely approaching those of Serranus 
hoenach, being generally reddish brown, with 5 or 6 narrow blue lines on the head passing 
backwards, 10 or 12 horizontal blue lines along the body, those in the upper third being 
interrupted and contorted, some ending on the soft portion of the dorsal fin, while others 
similarly end on the caudal and anal fins. A horizontal narrow blue band along the centre 
of the dorsal fin, and a narrow blue edging to the soft portion, 2 or 3 blue bands taking a 
semi-horizontal direction on the anal fin. Caudal externally edged with reddish brown. 
5 H 2 
