20 
PISCES THORACICI. PERCA. 
branchiae four-leaved; the exterior pectinate, the others tuberculate. The opercula squamous; the anterior 
lamina serrated, and armed with three short straight spines; the posterior terminates in a spinous point; between 
which and the pectoral fin there is a semicircular squama, or ossicle, serrated on the edge. The branchial 
membrane exposed; the aperture large, arched. 
The trunk. The back gently arched, carinate, sides compressed, a little convex; the abdomen and throat 
gently rounded, the former a little flattened. The lateral line forms a low arch above the pectoral fin, then 
slopes gently to the middle of the tail. Anus nearer the tail than the head. 
The Jins. The dorsal solitary, composite; the two first spinous rays very short; from the third to the tenth 
they gradually shorten, but the tenth and eleventh, lying on the ramous portion, again lengthen: the ramous 
rays decline gently ; the pectoral low, short, acuminate at top; the ventral longer than the pectoral, the second 
ray longest; the anal has three stout, spinous, assurgent rays; the ramous rays are likewise assurgent, and 
decline very little from the fifth. The caudal fin bifid. 
The colour. The upper part of the head a darkish green, the rest white; the back also green, but change¬ 
able; the rest of the trunk a very light gray, terminating in white on the belly. On the sides are three fillets 
of a dusky yellowish-green, the lowest from the eye continued along the tail: still lower is a yellowish fillet 
ending with the anal fin. 
The first part of the dorsal fin whitish, with a large semicircular black spot, the posterior part of the fin 
yellowish, with two fillets like continuations of those on the body. The pectoral, ventral, and anal fins 
yellowish-white; the caudal yellowish, with two oblique streaks, besides the fillet. 
The length of the subject described, eight inches. It was caught at a little distance from the shore, but 
beyond the surf; they are sometimes caught of eleven or twelve inches. Their usual length in the river, where 
they swarm, is rarely more than five or six inches. 
No. CXXVII. 
Perca cauda rotundata ; spinis dorsalibus undecem ; corpore oblongo, maculis fuscis; aculeis 
tribus plants in opercido posteriore. 
The Perch with a round tail; and eleven spines in the dorsal fin ; an oblong body 
spotted with yellowish spots ; three flat spines in the hinder operculum. 
Called by the Natives Bontoo. 
» _i_ _L_ 
B. vii. D. 28. P. 18. V. 6. A. 12. C. 17. 
The body oblong, compressed, but thick and roundish. Scales small, close, tenacious. 
The head large, thick, compressed, nearly as broad as the trunk, the vertex a little depressed, the rostrum 
short, declivous. The mouth horizontal, wide; the lips thickish. Jaws extractile, the lower a little longer than 
the upper. Teeth numerous, in several rows, the exterior larger than the interior, reflex: two longer teeth in 
front of each jaw. Tongue narrow, rounded, smooth, free. Palate wide, denticulate. Eyes, supreme, round, 
near the rostrum. Nostrils double, round, near the orbit. 
The anterior lamina of the opercula serrate, the posterior acuminate, and armed with three stout, flat, 
straight, spines. The branchial membrane half exposed when the mouth is shut. The aperture large. 
The trunk. The back and belly slightly convex ; the sides and tail compressed, but roundish. The lateral 
line very small, high, descends from the point of the opercula, bending a very little over the pectoral fin, and 
terminates at the middle of the caudal fin. Anus nearly middle. 
