










18. 
CHETODON ATRO-MACULATUS. 
Order, THORACIC. 
Native Name, eSemmnoEe?. Dewi KorALeEYAH. 
C. arro-macuatus. Body silvery, apparently shot with a lilac and pink hue 
above the lateral line, and irregularly marked with black spots of various 
forms. The fins remarkably prominent, and with radii strongly indicated ; 
the spines on the dorsal and lower fins very powerful; the pectoral fin 
pale yellow. The general appearance inelegant and formidable. Lateral 
line very visible and arched. 
Branchiostegous rays4. Dorsal 26, eleven spinous. Pectoral 16. Ventral 6, 
one spinous. Anal 18, four spinous. Caudal 18. 
Tur Dewi Koraleyah of the Cingalese inhabits rocky situations, 
is generally found at the mouths of rivers, and as high up as the flow 
of the tide. It is generally esteemed, its flesh partaking the flavor of 
trout. It is found wherever the sea-weed called by the Cingalese 
« Pendah,” grows, of which it is particularly fond, and with this weed 
anglers bait their hooks for it. 
Block, the German Historian, has described a fish which in many 
respects corresponds with this, under the Linnean name “ Cheetodon 
Argus ;” but in his colored figure the spots are represented as 
circular, with the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, yellow; whereas the 
fins of the Dewi Koraleyah are never yellow until life has been for 
some time extinct, and the spots are of various forms. 
This fish belongs to the genus Ephippus of Cuvier, and the Cavaliers 
of the French. Dr. Russel, in bis fine work on Indian Fishes, t. 78, 
equally figures the spots as round, so that the shape of the spots may 
be liable to vary; the number of rays in the fins, given by Dr. 
Russel, agree well with our fish. 
Figure— About two-thirds the size of the Specimen, 

