





| 
CHATODON ARANEUS. 

Order, THORACIC. 
Native Name, ey CO PR Gat-Ha NDAH, 
C, arAneus. Body very obtuse, perpendicularly striped with dark grey, 
approaching to black; the first stripe taking part of the dorsal fin, the 
shoulder, and the eye ; the second, about one-third the centre of the dorsal fin, 
stretching forward to the pectoral, and terminating with the ventral fin; the 
third stripe takes a portion of the dorsal fin, crossing the body and terminating 
with the anal £n: the caudal fin is colored like the stripes, the intervals are 
white, tinged with blue. The iris silvery. Lateral line very visible and 
arched, convexing towards the eye. 
Branchiostegous rays 5. Dorsal 21, twelve spinous. Pectoral 14. Ventral 6, 
one spinous, Anal 13, three spinous. Caudal 18. 
Tue Gal-Handah of the Cingalese is a singular fish of its species, 
and therefore admired. It is found in rocky situations, which offer 
it protection from larger fish of prey. The flesh is delicate and 
white, and although so small, is much esteemed. It rarely exceeds 
three inches in length. 
Block has given a bad figure of this fish, tab, 198, fig 
. 2, evidently 
taken from a specimen in spirits. It forms the genus Dascyllus of 
Cuvier. 
Figure—'The natural size of the Specimen. 

