





14. 
SPARUS DECUSSATUS. 
Order, ‘THORACIC. 
HrempBiti-GIRAWAH— 
Native Name, ete } 7 
Basket PaRror. 
S. pecussatus. The back green, gradually softening into a yellow tinge 
towards the lower fins; the body regularly marked, like wicker-work, by 
eraduated purple and grey tints. The head green, ornamented with 
orange-coloured stripes and spots. 'T'ne fins and tail yellow. 
Branchiostegous rays 4. Dorsal2\, nine spinous. Pectoral 13. Ventral 6, 
one spinous. Anal 14, eleven spinous. Caudal 16. 
Tut Hembili-Girawah of the Cingalese derives its name from a 
sort of pouch or basket in which the natives carry their Betel-Leaf, 
(Piper Betel), Chunam, (Shell Lime), Tobacco, and Areka-Nut, 
(Areka Catechu), called Hembili. Girawah, the Cingalese name for 
Parrot, is a term indiscriminately applied by the natives to a variety 
of splendid fishes with which the coast of Ceylon abounds. 
The Hembili-Girawah is edible, but is never sought after as an 
article of food. It inhabits rocky situations, and seldom exceeds 
fourteen or fifteen inches in length. 
Figure—The natural size of the Specimen. 


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