PISCES THORACICI. PERCA. 
21 
The Jins. The dorsal single, composite, the spines (the two first excepted) nearly of equal length; the 
ramous rays to the ninth assurgent, when the remaining four declining give a rounded form to the fin. The 
pectoral and caudal fins orbicular; the ventral long, ramous, with one stout spine; the anal, in shape exactly 
like the opposite dorsal, with three spines. 
The colour cineritious, spotted with dusky yellow, or brown, round spots; the colour on the belly is lighter; 
the spots on the fins smaller and darker. 
The length one foot eight inches. 
REMARKS. 
This fish is often brought to table in the winter, and when from one foot to one and a half in length, is 
reckoned delicate; but when larger, it becomes coarse. It grows to an enormous size. In the beginning of 
January 1786, one was brought to the Chief’s house, measuring from the nose to the point of the caudal fin, 
seven feet, and in circumference, near the gills, five feet. It weighed three hundred and odd pounds. 
About an inch of the anterior part of each jaw was without teeth ; the rest full of short, strong, teeth. 
The colour, so far as I could judge by candle light, was browner and the spots more obscure, than in the 
small fish; and the teeth of the serrated opercula were hardly discernible. The three spines very stout and 
large. 
The Dutch name Jacob Evertsen has certainly been applied to several spotted Indian fishes. Ruysch gives 
no less than eleven figures, none of which agree with the present subject. 
In Seba,* a figure under that name is found; and another in Bloch,-j- under the name Bodianus Guttatus. In 
both the spines on the opercula are clearly depicted, as well as the rounded tail; and Gronovius in his descrip¬ 
tion concurs with them, though in other respects]; differing from both. 
In the Perea Guttata of Linneus reference is made to Marcgrave,§ Sloan, || and Catesby ;^[ but in the figures 
given by these authors there are no spines in the opercula, and in all the caudal fin is entire, or square. The 
same remark is applicable to the several figures found in Valentine** and Renard.-ff 
The present fish therefore is not the Perea Guttata of Linneus, the Gugupuguacu of the Brasils, the Jacob 
Evertsen of the Dutch and of Willoughby, nor does it agree to any of the figures in Valentine or Renard, 
though so common in India. 
The Perka Tauvina of Forskal pj; approaches very near to the present fish and the one that follows. 
Marcgrave’s description of the Gugupuguacu, the shape of the tail excepted, agreed so nearly to that of the 
present Bontu, that on meeting with a subject of the enormous size mentioned above, I was inclined to think it 
the Gugupuguacu. 
The Bodianus Guttatus depicted by Bloch was received from Tranquebar under the native name Ganimin, 
and on showing my drawing to the fishermen at Madras, the name they gave it, sounded to my ear Panamin; 
so that I have no doubt of their being the same fish : but the name received from the Missionary at Tranquebar, 
who understood the language, is more likely to be correct than what I wrote down by ear only, at Madras. 
* Tab. 27. t PI. 224. J S. N. p. 485. § Brasil, p. 169. || Sloan, Jamaic. T. 2. tab. 247. 
f Carolin. tab. 14. **1^0,37.41. tt No. 17. 111. 207. Tom. ii No. 36. 300. U No. 38. 
VOL. II. 
