





A. 
HOLOCENTRUS RUBER. 
Order, ‘THORACIC. 
Native Name, Snopreblety Ratoo Panava—Rep Pawaya. 
H. nuBER. Body, head, and fins, bright red. Scales partially tinged with gold. 
Branchiostegous rays 5. Dorsal 20, eleven spinous. Pectoral 12. 
Ventral 6, one spinous. -Ana/ 14, four spinous. Caudal 19. 
Tr Ratoo Pahaya is found, at certain seasons, in great abundance, 
on the southern coast of Ceylon, and generally in deep water. It is 
oreatly esteemed by the natives as an article of food, and attains a 
considerable size,—sometimes nearly two feet in length. ‘The flesh 
white and solid. For splendour and beauty this fish is, by many, 
considered to surpass the gold fish (Cyprinus auratus ) of China. 
Figure—The natural size of the Specimen. 
