■m

ana a^BQ

o

^ THE

, FISHES OF INDIA;

BEING

A NATURAL HISTORY

OF

THE FISHES

KNOWN TO INHABIT THE SEAS AND FIIESH WATEKS

OF

INDIA, BURMA, AND CEYLON.

BY

FRANCE. ^A^ F.L.S., & RZ.8.,

■.; MEMBER-. -ASIATIC SOCIETY OF CALCUTTA AND COTSWOLD NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUE, ETC.j
LATE^UBaEON-MAJOR MADRAS ARMY, AND IKPECTOR-GENERAL OF FISHERIES IN INDiA AND BURMA.

VOLUME 1.

'EXT.

L N D \N :
PUBLISHED BY BERNARD QUAIUTCII, 15 PICCADILLY

1878. ' •

MCZ L/BRARY
HARVARD UN|\-Rc,-7-y

CAMDRIDGE. ma' USA

'

'])^

^ , ^ believe, the only attempt which

Jtwyl CKa^ (Jt^A^a_^ ( ^ y% the Ichthyology of our Indian

. tL »^/-, c) j.-j^g circumstances which have led

jO' J /?S Si tlie circumstances which have led

::^U9kJji.^^^^Ji^ ' f>4 ' 7U' " ^ ^ '^ ; if^*^^ . ■ legists who have preceded me in

>^j. (j /^ 'V f-^ ikP 'iJ History in the East ; and I have

^^fJLiu^'u-^ UP^^Mj»^^J^ ^'^^ - )f interest to the scientific pubHc,

ay years since I commenced to

1862 I was on duty at Cochin,

the fish along that coast. The

J I 1 ( jr- l(ClS^ mbodied in a work, "The Fishes

n which the present and more

bllowing manner. In 1867 Her

bas Government, directed their

he " should suppose that the

the principal rivers on the East

In consequence of this I was

adras Presidency, in order that

subject than had been offered

■first the districts to the

was afterwards instructed to

erwards to British Burma, and

occurred during these investi-

is enabled me to visit many of

r to India.

. India in 1867, had, however,
) erection of the weirs, had
50 of spawning, were not only
deposition of their ova, but
which they vainly attempted
T the native fishermen almost
a. The want of legislation

{

r

njQ^

/ : ..

CAMBRIDGE,
MASS.

MCZ I f"- - i.

has been

My d^aj' Sir:

Tour letter of

received.

With the engagements I have made, tt is

impossible for me to
enterprise.

become interested in any new

Tours very

truly.

PEEF ACE.

The work I now present to tlie notice of the reader is, I believe, the only attempt which
has yet been made to publish a fairly complete account of the Ichthyology of our Indian
Empire. I propose, therefore, to preface it by a short sketch of the circumstances which have led
to its being undertaken, as likewise by some notice of those zoologists who have preceded me in
endeavouring to advance the knowledge of this branch of Natural History in the East ; and I have
added comments on such matters connected therewith as seem to be of interest to the scientific pubHc,
or relate to the economic value of the Fisheries. It is now many years since I commenced to
devote time and no small labour to these subjects. From 1859 to 1862 I was on duty at Cochin,
and spent most of my spare hours in collecting specimens of the fish along that coast. The
examples secured and preserved were numerous, and the results are embodied in a work, " The Fishes
of Malabar," which may perhaps be considered the germ from which the present and more
pretentious treatise has taken its origin.

The notice of Government was drawn to the subject in the following manner. In 1867 Her
Majesty's Secretary of State for India, in a despatch to the Madras Government, directed their
attention to a letter from Sir Arthur Cotton, in which he said he " should suppose that the
injury to the coast fisheries must be very great, now that seven of the principal rivers on the East
coast" are barred by irrigation works that had been constructed. In consequence of this I was
directed by the Government to visit the " anicuts " or weirs in the Madras Presidency, in order that
the Heads of Departments might have fuller information on the subject than had been offered
them up to that date. This order was carried out as follows : — first the districts to the
south of Madras were inspected, and then those to the north. I was afterwards instructed to
continue these inquiries, and went to Orissa and Lower Bengal, afterwards to British Burma, and
at the end of 1869 to the Andaman Islands. An accident which occurred during these investi-
gations compelled me to proceed to Europe in March, 1870, but this enabled me to visit many of
the fish-ladders in use in England, and I returned at the end of the year to India.

My visits to the irrigation works on the rivers of Southern India in 1867, had, however,
completely established the fact that the fish which, prior to the erection of the weirs, had
ascended the rivers during the season of the rains for the purpose of spawning, were not only
prevented from proceeding up stream to spots suitable for the deposition of their ova, but
were collected in such vast numbers immediately below these weirs, which they vainly attempted
to pass, that the wholesale manner in which they were caught by the native fishermen almost
amounted to extermination of the spawning fish of each season. The want of legislation

a

11 PREFACE.

on the subject was fully recognized, but it was also seen tliat our knowledge of tlie
Ichthyology of that part of the world was exceedingly imperfect. Under these circumstances
I was oifered the post of Inspector- General of Fisheries, with power, when not required to
be present at the seat of Government, to travel about the country and collect information on
subjects connected with the Department.

My time was spent in these pursuits from January, 1871, to early in 1874, during which
period I visited every large river in India, and nearly the entire coast from Gwadur in
Beloochistan to Mergui in Tenasserim. This enabled me to form a private collection of many
thousand specimens taken from various parts of India, and, I believe, fairly representing the
Ichthyology of the lakes and rivers and of the Indian Ocean. The present work contains descrip-
tions of 1340 species, 1185 of which are in my own collection: I have also personally examined
111 additional Indian species in other Museums, some of which I have figured: the remaining
44 forms are described from the writings of others, as I have not yet seen examples
of them. It is from these matei-ials that I have endeavoured to meet the wishes of
Government that I should prepare a woi-k on "The Fishes of India."*

It must not, however, be supposed from what I have just stated, that T have any wish
to ignore the merits of those Ichthyologists who have preceded me in the treatment of this
subject. Science is deeply indebted to those gentlemen, most of whom I will endeavour to
specify by name and to add a few words respecting the labours of each.

The first writer on Indian Fishes I propose adverting to is Block, whose splendid work on
" Auslandische Fische" was published in 1785. It, his " Ichthyologie," and the continuation
of this latter by Schneider in 1801, contain many Indian marine forms. To these must be
added Lacep'ede's " Histoire des Poissons," 1798-18G3. No small impetus was given to the
practice of fish-collecting in India by the publication of these treatises, which fully deserve to
receive a large share of praise and respect.

Br. Russell, Naturalist to the Madras Government, was the author of the " Fishes of
Vizagapatam," wherein 200 forms are delineated and described. The work was published in
two volumes folio by the Court of Directors of the Hon. East India Company in 1803.

J)r. Francis Buchanan^ (who subsequently took the name of Hamilton) was born at Branziet, in
Stirlingshire, February 15th, 1762. Having completed his education and obtained his diploma at
Glasgow, he subsequently studied at Ediuburgh, receiving his degree in 1783. He entered the Navy,
but had to leave on account of ill-health. In 1794 he was appointed an Assistant Surgeon in the
Hon. East India Company's service on the Bengal establishment, and soon after his arrival iu Calcutta
he was sent with Capt. Symes on his mission to Ava, and employed his leisure in collecting specimens
of Natural History, nut only in Burma but subsequently at the Andaman Islands. He forwarded his
collections and drawings to the Hon. Court of Directors, who presented them to Sir Joseph Banks.
Eeturning to India he was stationed for two years at Luckipoor, near the mouth of the Brahmaputra,
when the fishes of that locality attracted his attention. In 1798 he was sent to examine the district of
Chittagong, and the country in the vicinity : here he largely augmented his botanical collections, which

* The parts of this work have been published as follows :— Part I, August 1875, to end of page 168, with 40 plates
and 130 figures: Part H, August 18"6, to end of page 368, with 41 plates and 148 figures: Part III, August 1877, to end
of page 552, with 65 plates and 305 figures, while Part IV contains 61 plates with 343 figures. The number of plates are 198,
the last being CXCV, but li a, lib, lie, are also inserted. The figures in 42 plates were personally delineated. The Government
copies, and those only, have " End of Vol. I " printed at p. 320, and contain a separate Index for that portion .

t Chambers's " Lives of Scotchmen," i, p. 393.

PREFACE. 1"

were disposed of as his Burmese ones had previously been. Part of 1799 was employed in investigating
the Fishes of the Ganges and its branches. In 1800 he was commissioned to report upon the state of
Malabar, lately conquered from Tippoo Sultan, when he found three new species of carps. In 1802
he was sent with Capt. Knox to Nepal, of which he pubhshed a history in 1818, but he restricted his
Natural History investigations to botanical pursuits. In 1 806 he was directed to make a comprehensive
statistical survey of the territories comprising the Presidency of Bengal as well as of some adjacent
districts. This occupied seven years, and it is only those who have had the opportunity of inspecting
the vast amount of information his twenty-eight thick folio volumes of MSS. contain, that can
appreciate the enormous amount of labour undergone, as well as the extreme accuracy of detail which is
there displayed. In 1815 he returned to Europe, but the drawings of fish, &c., he was not permitted to
take with him ; and subsequently he appears to have been refused access to his original MS. report,
when he desired to publish, at his own cost, the " Fishes of the Ganges," which he did in 1822 in
one vol. quarto. It contains descriptions of 269 species, and is illustrated by 97 figures. There is no
record of his having brought any specimens to Europe.*

Cuvier and Valenciennes' " Histoire Naturelle des Poissons" (commenced in 1828, and the last of
the volumes of which was pubhshed in 1849) has perhaps done more than any other Ichthyological work
in the present century to stimulate a liking for Ichthyology.

Mr. J. Bennett, of the Ceylon Civil Service, pubhshed in 1830 a beautifully illustrated work
containing coloured figures of 30 of the most beautiful and interesting of the Fishes found on the coast
of Ceylon. This was intended as the first instalment of a large work on the subject, which, however,
was never completed.

Dr. Cantor, of the Bengal Medical Service, was the next Indian author who wrote upon Fish, in a
paper in the "Journal of the Eoyal Asiatic Society," 1839, entitled "Notes respecting some
Indian Fishes," being observations he had made while discharging the duties of Surgeon to the
Hon. Company's Marine Survey. Subseriuently, in 1850, his "Catalogue of Malayan Fishes" was
published in the " Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal." It contains full and accurate descriptions
of 292 species, to which are added 14 plates of fish or anatomical details. His collections became the
property of the Hon. East India Company, and were transferred to the British Museumt in 1860.

Dr. John McClelland, of the same service, having been attached to a mission sent to Upper Assam
in the winter of 1835-36, devoted the time spent on the river to the examination and figuring of species
of fish, J and in 1839 published a memoir on " Indian Cyprinidas" in the second part of the 19th volume

* See remarks under the head of Blyth, p. v.

t The Museum at the India House received in 1819 from Br. HorsfieU some fishes ft-om Jav.a ; in 1823, a collection containing
fish sent by Dr. Finlayson, Surgeon and Naturalist to Crawfurd's Mission to Siam and Hue, the capital of Cochin China. Dr. Gn^dh's
zoological collections made in Afghanistan, and containing fish, were sent to the same Museum by the Bengal Government in 184a,
and the following year he personally presented more. The Asiatic Society of Bengal at several times also sent fishes to the India
Museum, and so did the Bombay Government in 1851. Mr. Brian Eodson, of the Bengal Civil Service, likewise presented some Nepal
and Calcutta fish to the British Museum.

X General BardwicWs " Illustrations of Indian Zoology," edited by Dr. Gray, were published in 18.'50-35. A majority of the
Indian fishes are copies from Ham.-Buch. original figures, of which McClelland observes " although they seem to have been withheld from
Buchanan himself, the following drawings from his original collection of unpublished figures of fishes have found their way from the
Botanic Gardens (in Calcutta) into Hardwicke's Illustrations without any acknowledgment to point out from whence they were derived."
A list of some of these figures follows. "Years have elapsed," says Cantor in 1850, "and no explanation has been offered to
Mr. McCklland's just observations." The late Dr. J. E. Gray observed (in a letter to myself, dated January 19th, 1872), " Hamilton
and Ilardwicke were great friends, and he allowed his artist to make copies of all his fishes from Mysore and other drawings for
General Uardwicke, in whose collection of drawings now in the Museum they are to be seen. Mrs. Gray engraved a large number of
the small unfigured species from that series but they have not been published." I may add that I obtained a set of these figures along
with some of the late Dr. Jerdon's MSS.; there are six 4to. plates containing -46 figures.

a *

1^ PEEFACE.

of the "Asiatic Researches" (pp. 217-465), with 25 plates, having 103 full figures of fish besides detaHs,
39 as stated by McClelland are copies from Ham.-Buch. drawings. The number of species described
is 138. He observes, "I am indebted to the gi-acious consideration of the Right Honorable George
Lord Auckland, g.c.b., &c., not only for the opportunity of examining my collection of fishes, which had
otherwise been denied on my return from Assam, but also for the inspection of the splendid collection
of drawings of the late Dr. Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, which," he continued, " contained 1 14 coloured
figures of fish : amongst mammals, 5 of Simia, 5 of FeUnte, 6 Cerrldce ; of birds about 00 of
Falconidce, 150 Insessores and 74 Grallae, the whole amounting to about 900 drawings." Subsequently
(1841) Dr. McClelland commenced the "Calcutta Journal of Natural History," which extended to
six volumes, and in the pages of which are several papers upon the Fishes of India, more especially on
the collections made by Dr. Griffith. Many of the specimens were transmitted to the Museum at the
India House,* from whence they were transferred to the British Museum in 1859.

W. H. Sykes entered the Bombay Army in 1804, when in his fifteenth year. In 1824 he was
engaged by Government to assist iu a statistical inquiry, and was thus employed until 1831, when he
quitted India as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He made a report that same year to the Court of Directoi-s
of the East India Company upon the " Fishes of the Dukhun," accompanied by some good drawings
and also specimens. These were left unnoticed until 1838, when they were, at the author's request,
transferred to the " Zoological Society of London," who published them in their Transactions, vol. ii,
1841, pp. 340-378. They contain descriptions of 46 species and give 28 figures. Some of the fishes,
without any labels, were transferred to the British Museum in 1860 from the India Ofiice. Other
specimens, perhaps skins, were wanting ; they may have been presented elsewhere or retained by the
author.

Dr. Wyllie entered the Madras Medical Service on June 11th, 1812. He contributed a paper on
the accessory breathing apparatus of Silurus singio to the " Proceedings of the Zoological Society of
London " in 1840, p. 34. He sent to Europe some stuffed fish, now in the British Museum.

Dr. Pieter v. Sleeker was born at Zaandam, in Holland, July 10th, 1819. He was apprenticed
to an apothecary from 1834 to 1837, in which latter year he commenced his studies at Haarlem,
where he graduated in 1840 and received his diploma. At the end of 1S40 and the commencement
of 1841 he spent six months at the Paris Medical School, and when iu that city appears to have
ucqun-ed a taste for Ichthyological pursuits. May 24th, 1841, he obtained entrance by public
competition into the Army Medical Department, embarking for Batavia iu November, and
arriving there March 13th, 1842. He returned to Europe in 1860, and was placed on the pension
establishment, April 1st, 1864. He collected in the East and brought in safety to Europe large
zoological collections, that of fishes alone exceeding 30,000 examples. His papers upon the Fishes
of the East are too numerous for me to give the titles. In 1853 he published a paper on the
" Ichthyologische fauna van Bengalen," pp. 162, with lists of all the fishes previously described
from India, and detailed descriptions of 162 species. In 1862 he gave descriptions of 11 species
of carps from Ceylon, which had been sent to the Leyden Museum: his paper has 4 plates
illustrated with 11 coloured figures. His magnificent "Atlas Ichthyologique des Indes Orientales
Neerlandaises " must ever remain as a lasting testimony to his unwearied industry, scientific
acquirements, and accurate determination of species. Unfortunately his sudden death, on
January 24th, 1878, occurred when he had only completed eight out of the twelve volumes;
and though much of the remainder is left in a forward state, it is to be feared that circumstances
may prevent its publication being completed.

* List in " Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist." ii, p. 573.

PREFACE. V

Mr. BIyth, the able Curator of the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, gave several
interesting articles in their Proceedings on the Fishes of India: in 1858, remarks on some Fishes from
the Andamaus, pp. 270-272 ; Fishes from Pegu, Calcutta, and elsewhere, pp. 281-290; Fishes of Pegu,
1859, p. 297; The Cartilaginous Fishes of Lower Bengal, 1860, pp. 35-45; On some Fishes fi-om
Port Blair, 1860, p. Ill; On some Fishes of the Tenasserim Provinces and Lower Bengal, 1860,
pp. 138-174. He sent a number of fishes, personally collected, to Europe, and he informed me that he
entertained no doubt but that in the " collection of Fishes from Bengal, believed to contain many typical
specimens of Buchanan-Hamilton's work, presented by G. R. Waterhouse, Esq." to the British Museum,*
were some which had been sent by him to England. Having been permitted by Mr. Winter Jones
to examine the register, I find the majority of the generic names under which they were received as
AUla, Amhassis, Amhlyopus, Apocryptes, &c., were not invented until after Buchanan's death.

Col. Tickell, of the Bengal Army, gave a paper on Astheniirus atripinnis to the " Journ. Asi. Soc.
of Bengal," 1865, p. 32, pi. i. He also sent large collections of fish to the Calcutta Museum, and has
left a MS. volume of beautiful drawings of fish with descriptions.

Br. Thomas Caverhill Jerdon, so well known as the author of the standard work on " The Birds
of India," 3 vols., and another on " The Mammals," 1 vol., devoted some time to Fishes. The first
part of his " Fishes of Southern India" was published in the " Madras Journal of Literature and
Science," vol. xv, 1849, p. 139 to 149, and contained descriptions of 22 species, 3 of which were stated
to be new. The second part was also in the same volume (p. 302 to 346) ; it contained descriptions
or references to 150 species, 55 of which were believed to be new. In 1851 he gave another paper
to the same journal, entitled " Ichthyological Gleanings in Madras," p. 128 to 151, it contained
references to 391 species obtained during a two years' residence in Madras. A considerable number at
that time were unknown to science, but he refrained from naming them, which has been subsequently
done by others. He had coloured figures made of large numbers, and presented some fine stufi'ed
specimens to the British Museum.

Br. Giinthcr, of the British Museum, has considerably facilitated the study of fish by compiling a
" Catalogue of the Fishes in the Collection of the British Museum," eight volumes 8vo. 1859 to 1870,
published by order of the Trustees. The work is said to contain 6843 well established and 1682
doubtful species. The " Fishes of Zanzibar," published by the same author in conjunction with
Col. Playfair, must also be alluded to, as it supplies a list of 500 fishes found along the East coast of
Africa. It contains 22 plates and 67 figures of fish, some of which are simple outlines. The specimens,
mostly dried skins, are in the British Museum.

Br. Klunzinger has given two excellent papers upon the Fishes of the Red Sea in " Verhandlungen
der k.k. zool-bot. Gesellschaft in Wien," 1870, pp. 669-834, and 1871, pp. 441-688. Some of his
specimens are in the British Museum.

It is my pleasing duty to offer ray best thanks to the many friends who have afforded me assistance
in order that I might complete this work in a satisfactory manner, and amongst my official superiors more
especially to General R. Strachey, r.E.s., and A. 0. Eume, Esq., c.B. Amongst those who have given me
help in the East, or furnished me with materials they have collected there, I must especially mention
Sir Walter Elliot, K.c.s.r., formerly of the Madras Civil Service, who most libirally placed at my
disposal the whole of his beautiful and accurate coloured illustrations of the Fishes of Madras and
Waltair which he had had executed by native artists from the fresh specimens. These comprise many
hundred species, each with its native name attached, as well as Jerdon's identifications, thus giving me
the key to the fishes recorded in "Ichthyological Gleanings in Madras" (M. J. L. and S., 1851).

* British iluseum Catalogue, iii, isei, p. iv.

yi PREFACE.

Besides this he has obtained for me a few of Jerdon's original type specimens, some of which I have had
fio-ured, also a good number of MS. notes, as well as Cantor's MS. opinions upon the sharks and rays.
It will be seen in the pages of my work that I have quoted largely most interesting details from
some of these ; and I hope before long to complete a coloured series of the Fishes of India, which
I could hardly accomplish in a satisfactory manner were it not for Sir W. Elliot's assistance.

Hennj Sullivan Thomas, Esq.* Madras Civil Service, the author of a most able and exhaustive
report on " Pisciculture in South Canara,"t has given me very great assistance, not only in collecting
laro-e numbers of beautiful specimens from the fresh waters of Canara as well as from the sea, but
also in ascertaining a great deal respecting the habits of fish, their breeding, and what a lamentable
necessity exists for legislation with respect to the finny tribes. He has had a few excellent coloured
figures of some fresh-water fishes executed for me by native artists, and also sent me a collection of
the Fishes of the Shevaroys, some from Madras, and the first example of a trout bred in India in a
wild state.

The late Dr. Ferdinand Stolicz'ka,X the able and energetic Natural History Secretary of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal, assisted me both while collecting and also in obtaining specimens from
localities I did not visit. His first large collection of fish was made at Penang, and on his return
voyage by the Nicobars and Andamans: in the cold season of 1871 he obtained 18 species while on
a tour through Cutch (" Journ. Asi. Soc. of Beng.," 1872, pp. 258-2G0) : in 1873 he went as Naturalist
with the expedition to Yarkand; the collection of fish which he then made comprised 22 species,
out of which 9 were new (" Proc. Zool. Soc. of London," 1876, pp. 781-807).

I have likewise to oSev my thanks to Br. J. Anderson, of the Imperial Museum at Calcutta,
for affording me every facility towards examining its most interesting Ichthyological collection,
as well as for obtaining and transmitting to me in this country some species I wished to dissect ;
also to Mr. J. Wood-Mason, of the same institution, who assisted me in my collections. Br. Buka
and Br. Govan kindly collected for me at Almorah and Darjeeling, Br. Wright in Nepal,
Major Puchle^ in Mysore, H. E. Watson, Esq. in Sind, and Col. SJa,den at Mandalay in Upper
Burma, while Capt. Neill and Br. Caldecott, of the 1st Central India Horse, sent me a small
collection of fishes from Agur. Br. Bidie gave me leave to freely examine the specimens in the
Government Central Museum at Madras, and likewise had a collection made for me during my
absence. Br. Keess, the Garrison Surgeon, kindly superintended the work of a native collector.
Irrespective of those enumerated there are many others who have assisted me with specimens or in
various other ways, to each and all of whom I beg to tender my acknowledgments.

In Europe I have more especially to thank Professor Peters, Director of the Berlin Museum,
who not only most freely gave me access to the valuable contents of the magnificent collection
of fishes under his charge, but has also aided me in my difficulties aud assisted me with regard
to Bloch's type specimens.

* Author of " The Rod in India," or hints how to obtain sport, with remarks on the Natural History of Fish, Otters, &c.,
8vo., Mangalore, 1873, pp. 319. An excellent work for the use of the angler in India.

t Printed by order of the Secretary of State for India, 1870, pp. 77.

% Dr. Stoliczka was born in Moravia in 18.18. His earlier professional career was passed in tlie Imperial Geological
Institute of Austria, where he became greatlv distinguished by his palsontological work. In 1862 he accepted the appointment
of Pala-ontologist to the Geological Survey of India. He was selected as Katnrabst to accompany the Yarkand Mission. In
accepting this post he was made fully aw.are of the risk he was running, his health never having been completely restored after
an expedition he had undertaken some years previously to the higher regions of the Himalayas. tJn the return of the Mission
from Yarkaud he pcrislied, due to the extreme cold at the summit of the Karakorun Pass, June 19th, 1874.

§ Author of a paper entitled " Fresh-water Fu-h. in and about Bangalore,'' folio, 18GS, pp. 12.

PREFACE. VJI

«

Among the Officials at the British Museum, I must record my acknowledgments to
Professor Owen, c.B., Mr. Winter Jones, and the late Dr. J. E. Gray, for such help as they were able
to afford me to obtain free access to the Ichthyological collection.

At the Hague, the late Dr. Bleeker, not only permitted me free access to his invaluable
Ichthyological Museum (containing about 2000 species),* his notes and his unpublished figures of
fish, but he also assisted me with his opinion, on the validity of species as well as presented me
with many of his types. lu him I have personally to deplore the loss of a kind friend, and one
who stood unrivalled among the Ichthyologists of the present time.

Professor Schlegel, the Director of the Leyden Museum, and his able Ichthyological assistant,
Dr. Hubrecht, have rendered me invaluable assistance. The latter, as may be seen in the pages'
of this work, has been indefatigable in searching out superior examples of such fish as I desired
to figure, but of which I did not possess sufficiently good specimens.

At Paris, I have to offer my thanks both to M. VaUlant and Dr. Sauvage, who most kindly
assisted me at the Museum in the Jardin des Plantes, more especially in respect to the type
specimens of Cuvier and Valenciennes' great work on Fishes. I cannot resist noticing here how
excellently preserved and scientifically registered the fish in that unrivalled Ichthyological
Collection are.

I have also to give my best thanks to A. G. Brisbane Ncill, Esq., of the Madras Medical
Service (retired), for his valuable assistance in carrying this work through the press, a labour
which can scarcely be appreciated except by those who have undertaken similarly arduous tasks.

The following are a list of papers published by myself, all more or less connected with Indian Fishes : —

On the Fishes of Cochin, Pt. I. Acanthopterygii, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1865, pp. 1 — 40.

II ), „ Pt. II. Anacanthini, ^c. ,, „ pp. 286 — 318.

On the Fishes of the Neilgherry Mils mid rivers around their bases, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, pp. 281—302.
On some Fishes from the Wynaad, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, pp. 347—360.
On some new or imperfectly known Fishes of Madras, P. Z. S. 1867, pp. 558—565.

» » j> ,y „ „ „ pp. 935 — 942.

» ,, „ „ India, P. Z. S. 1867, pp. 699—707.

^ .. .. „ „ „ „ 1868, pp. 149—156.

On some neiv Fishes of Madras, P. Z. S. 1868, pp. 192—199.
On a nexo Gohioid Fish from Madras, P. Z. S. 18G8, pp. 272 — 273.
Pisciculture on the Neilgherry hills, Madras Quar. J. Med. Sc. 1868, pp. 37 — 99.
Catalogue of Indian Fresh-water Fishes (Acanthopterygii), M. Q. J. M. Sc. 1868, pp. 1—73.
Observations on Indian Fresh-water Fishes [Respiration), P. Z. S. 1868, pp. 274—288.
Observations on some Indian Fishes, P. Z. S. 1868, pp. 580 — 585.
On the Fishes of Orissa, P. Z. S. 1869, pp. 296—310.
On the Fishes of Orissa, Pt. II. P. Z. S. 1869, pp. 369—387.

Catalogue of Indian Fresh-tvater Fishes (Gyprinodontidce) , Madr. Quar. J. L. and Sc. 1869,
pp. 328— 333. y ur J, ^

Bemarks on Fishes in the Calcutta Museum, P. Z. S. 1869, pp. 511 — 527.

" J) )) !) ,, „ pp. 648 — 560.

>> » » ,, ,, ,, pp. 61] — 614.

On the Fresh-water Fishes of Burma, P. Z. S., 1869, pp. 614—623.
), „ „ „ 1870, pp. 99—101.

* His collection, at the time of his liefith, including European forms and those received in exchange, numbered 2.348 .species
of Fish : 162 of Reptiles and Amphibia, and 12 Cephalopods.

VIII PREFACE.

Observations on the Andamanese, Proc. A. S. of Beng. 1870, pp. 153 — 177.

Notes on Fishes of the Nicohars, Journ. As. S. of Beng. 1870, pp. 34—35.

Notes on the Oenus Earn of Bh/th, J. A. S. of Beng. 1870, pp. 37 — 40.

Notes on some Fishes from, the Western coast of India, P. Z. S. 1870, pp. 369 — 374.

On Turtle and Fish Oils, Madr. Monthly J. Med. Sc. April, 1870, pp. 294—301.

On the Fishes of the Andaman Islands, P. Z. S. 1870, pp. 677 — 705.

Monograph of Indian Oi/}'rinid(e, Pt. I. Journ. As. Soc. of Beng. 1871, pp. 95 — 143.

Pfc. II. „ „ „ pp. 277-336.

„ „ „ Pt. III. „ „ „ pp. 337—367.

Pt. IV. „ „ 1872, pp. 1- 86.

Pt. V. „ „ „ pp. 171-176

Pt. VI. „ „ „ pp 318—326.

Oft Hamilton-Buchanan's original drawings of Fish, Proc. As. S. of Beng. 1871, pp. 195—209.
On Fish as Food, or the reputed origin of disease, Ind. Med. Gazette, 1871, pp. 5 — 8.

T)p 26 — 29

n )) 11 11 11 11 11 r 1- ■ "^ ~^'''

Notes on Indian Siluroid Fishes, P. Z. Soc. 1871, pp. 286—289.

Eemarks on Indian Fishes, P. Z. Soc. 1871, pp. 634 — 638.

On the Fresh-xvater Siluroids of India, P. Z. Soc. 1871, pp. 703 — 721.

On the identity of Genera Eretliistes and Hara, Pro. A. S. of Beng. 1872, pp. 122 — 123.

Notes on Fish collected by Dr. Stoliczlca in Katch (Cutch), Journ. A. S. of Beng. 1872, pp. 258 — 260.

On some new Fislies of India, Journ. Linn. Soc. 1873, pp. 624 — 530.

On some neiv or imperfectly knoivn Fishes of India and Burma, P. Z. S. 1873, pp. 107 — 112.

„^ ^ „ P. Z.^S. 1873, pp. 236-240.

On some new or little hiown Fishes of India, P. Z. S. 1873, pp. 704 — 710.

Extracts from the late Dr. Buchanan's Fishes of Bengal, ^x. P. Z. S. pp. 743 — 748.

Ham.-BHch. MSS. on Fishes of Bengal in Hunter's Stat. Report of Bengal, pp. 1 — 120.

On the introduction of trout and tench into India, J. Linn. Soc. 1876, pp. 562 — 565.

On some of the Fishes of the Deccan, J. Linn. Soc. 1876, 565 — 578.

On the Fishes of Yarkand, P. Zool. Soc. 1876, pp. 781—807.

On the geographical distribution of Indian Fresh-water Fishes (Pt. I. Acanthoptbrtgii), J. L. Soc. 1877,
pp. 138—155.

On amphibiotis and migratory Fishes of Asia, J. L. Soc. 1877, pp. 198 — 215.

On the geographical distribution of Indian Fresh-ivater Fishes (Pt. II. SiLURlD.i:), J. L. Soc. 1877,
pp. 338—353.

Irrespective of the foregoing, Beport on the Fresh-water Fish and Fisheries of India and Burma,, 8vo.
Calcutta, 1873, pp. 118, and Appendix, pp. cccvii : Beport on the Sea Fish and Fisheries of India and Burma,
8vo. Calcutta, 1873, pp. 86, and Appendix, pp. cccxsxii.

Cheltenham, December 1st, 1878.

INTRODUCTION.

Prioe to commencing an account of the fishes existing in India and Burma, it will be necessary to
define the Geographical limits of the countries or seas the Ichthyology of which I propose to describe. They may
be brieflj- summed up as the regions of Sind, India, Ceylon, Assam and British Burma extending eastwards
to Mergui in the Tenasserim Provinces, and including the Nicobar and Andaman Islands in the Indian
Ocean. The boundaries are the Beloochistan and Sulieman ranges of mountains on the West and North-
West, the Himalayas and Upper Burma on the North and North-East, and the Indian Ocean to the South.
Within the foregoing area we find, as might be anticipated, vast difierences of climate as well as of locality.

The rivers vary in their conditions owing to the season of the year, the rainfall, and other
circumstances, both natural and artificial. Some rivers, as those which descend from the Himalayas, possess
Alpine sources, and in the hot months of the year are chiefly fed by the melting of ice and snow, while in the
monsoon season they are filled by the rains. Thus in the commencement of March, floods begin in the
Indus, when inundations are more due to melting snows than to the fall of rain ; on the contrary, in
the upper regions of the Ganges and Jumna, the rainfall is very considerable, occasioning floods, which subside
as rapidly as they rise. During the cold season these rivers being unreplenished by rains or melted snows,
are at their lowest.

In rivers destitute of Alpine sources, as the Nerbudda, Kistna, Godavery, and those arising on the
Western ghauts or lower hill ranges, snow rarely falls and never remains for any length of time. Along
with these must be classed as being of the same character, the affluents of the larger snow-fed rivers, and it is
in such where the temperature of the water is higher, that most of the hill fishes (excepting some loaches
and perhaps the Schizothoracincc) breed. If we take as an example the rivers on the Malabar coast, which as
a rule have their origin in the Western ghauts, we perceive that they receive the full force of tlie South- West
monsoon, which commencing in June, continues about three months. It is only at this period of sudden rises
and falls of the river, that breeding fish can ascend to the hill ranges for the purpose of depositing their ova
in suitable localities. As the monsoon ceases, the waters subside, and the breeding fish descend to the plains,
leaving the young to be reared in the pools remaining in the hill streams.

The rivers of the plains may be divided into those which have always a fair supply of water, as the
Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra and Irrawaddi : and others which are comparatively dry during part of the year.
In some of these latter this deficiency of water is increased by what remains being abstracted for irrigation
purposes. t

During the rainy months of the year rivers are usually at their highest, submerging the contiguous
country, and filling the numerous tanks : here many fish retire to breed and are entrapped by every device
the ingenuity of man can conceive.

Weirs or bunds, as I have observed, affect fisheries by preventing the ascent of breeding fish to their
spawning grounds. Irrespective of this, any descending a river and arriving at a weir, find an obstruction to
their further progress down stream, but a large quantity of water being deflected from its natural course
down an irrigation canal, they as a consequence descend by this the only open route. Once down a canal and
over a single fall, there is no possibility of their return, and as these canals are being constantly dried in order
that the engineers may examine their structure, they become vast traps for the destruction of the finny
tribes, as successive waves of living fish pass down them only to die.

We find the same process going on elsewhere, although to a less extent. Thus in Malabar as the dry
season commences, water is required to irrigate the second rice crop ; but the rivers are very low, so the farmers
collect stones, lay them across the stream, filling in the interstices with shingle and stopping up the crevices
with bushes and mud. In this way the water which is stocked with fry is diverted into rice fields : the young
fish pass in to these levelled and partitioned localities, and if the water does not return to the river, but is
expended in the fields, they cannot escape destruction. Even if it does return to the river, fine traps
which do not permit the smallest fry to escape are fixed in every constricted place.

If we examine into what are the fish which inhabit these pieces of fresh water as well as the tanks,
lakes, and marshes of India and Burma, we find most diversified forms. Some are exclusively confined to
the fresh waters, while others enter rivers from the sea for breeding or to catch their prey.

The subject of the migrations offish during the rains is of importance, being mostly effected for the

h

X INTRODUCTION.

purpose of breedins^. At the commencement of the rains they become very excited, apparentlj^ unsatisfied
with the localities they inhabit, they restlessly seek a change. It is generally at this season that some have
been observed travelling on land, and it has been imagined that places which are only now and then covered
by water become peopled by tish in this manner after heavy showers of rain

The modes of respiratiim in some of these fishes are exceedingly curious, and have a bearing upon
the question of migration. We find respiration carried on in three ways : — First, as is usually observed
elsewhere, oxyo-en is obtained from air in solution in the water and which is separated at the gills, as by carps
and most siluroids. If such fish have a bandage stitched round their gill-covers precluding the use of the
gills, they die owing to the impossibility of taking in oxygen as described : on the same principle if the water
becomes vei-y muddy their gills become choked, respiration impeded and death ensues.* Secondli/, we have forms
on which muddy water does not produce an injurious efiect on placing a bandage round the gdl-covers. They never
obtain oxygen for any length of time fi-om the air in solution in the suiTouuding water, but inspire it direct
from the atmosphere, no matter how cool and charged with air the water may be : if unable to inhale
atmospheric air they become poisoned by the carbon remaining in their circulation. Such fish are to be
found in the amphibious forms of Anahas (p. 369), Pohjacanthus (p. 371), Trichogaster (p. 373), Ophiocephalus
(p, 362), Saccobranchus (p. 486), etc. These fishes rise to the surface, expel a bubble of air, and at the same
time take in a fresh supply (see p. 439), and this mode of respiration enables them during periodic dry seasons
or in the rains to migrate from pond to pond in search of food, or to ascend small water-courses to breed
during seasons of inundation when the stream is frequently intermittent. Thirdhj, there are fish which
appear to swallow air, as the loaches and spined eels (Rhynchobdallid^, p. 338), but no special air-breathing
apparatus has as yet been detected, except that some species are stated to have portions of the intestines
lined with vascular papillfe, where oxygen is abstracted from air which is first swallowed and subsequently
returned by the mouth or by the anus.

A curious phenomenon in Indian fishes is the appearance of adult and healthy ones after heavy falls
of rain in localities which had been dry for months previously. If when water failed in India, all the fishes
in tanks which dried up were to die, none would be found for the succeeding year's supply unless migrations
took place from other localities. As I and others have personally seen live fishes dug up from the ground
where a tank had dried up, I do not think we are justified in rejecting the native theory that they become
torpid in the mud where they wstivate. As the water in tanks becomes low, the fishes may be perceived
congregating in holes and places where their backs are barely covered : if disturbed, they dive down into the
thick mud so that a net is often inefi'ectual to capture them. As the water evaporates they become
increasingly sluggish, and finally there is every reason to believe that some at least bury themselves in the
soft mud and await in a state of torpidity the return of the next season's rains, as is weU known to be the
case in animals which possess a higher vitality, as Batrachians, some of the Crocodiles : also molluscs and land
snails amongst the invertebrata. It may be that ova of these fishes are in the mud of these tanks with
their germination retarded as we know can be accomplished by means of ice. However this may be, a few
days after the rains we find numerous fry in many inundated spots.

The strictly fresh-ivater forms are divisible into those which are comparatively stationary or non-
tnigratory, and secondly the migratory forms which find the waters of the plains unsuitable for the deposition
of their ova, or else change their residence in order to obtain some peculiarly desirable description of food.

We may, therefore, first briefly allude to the breeding of the non-migratory fresh-water forms of the
plains, some of which are monogamous others polygamous. The ubiquitous and amphibious walking fishes,
Ophiocephalidj;, are among perhaps the best known of the monogamous species, which as a rule do not produce
such a number of ova as the migratory forms, but appear to breed oftener. Some deposit their ova in tanks,
others prefer rivers where they live in deserted holes they find in the banks. When the fry are hatched
they are defended by their parents until old enough to protect themselves. The polygamous non-migratory
fishes of the plains are very numerous, and do not migrate any long distance for the purpose of breeding :
in places the smaller carps are innumerable. All these forms during the rains pass up small water-courses in
order to deposit their eggs in irrigated fields, flooded plains, temporarily formed tanks, or along the grassy
banks of flooded rivers.

Of the migratory fresh-water fishes we have those which restrict their migrations to localities in
the plains and others which a.scend to hill streams to breed. These latter forms, as might be anticipated,
are as a rule larger and stronger than the non-migratory, and they appear to return to the hill ranges
to deposit their ova as naturally as some marine species enter fresh waters for this purpose.

Of the Anadromous, or migratory marine forms which ascend rivers in order to deposit their
ova in suitable spots, we have a good example in the Hilsa or Shad {Clupea ilisha, p. 640). Weirs
now form an insuperable bar to their ascent up some of the rivers.

The fry of the polygamous fresh-water fish have certain natural laws of protection. Thus they
are safe from their voracious parents in hill streams and rivers, as those localities being unable to supply
food to the mature forms they, having deposited their ova, drop down again into the rivers of the

* If numerous fish are seen de.ad on the lianks of a flooiletl Indian river, it may be simply due to their gills having been
choked by mud : should any amphibious forms however be perceived, other causes must have been in operation as poison whether
introduced by man or the addition of water from jungles where it bad btcooje imprcguaied with poisonous vegetable substances.

INTRODUCTION. ' ^^

plains. On the waters subsiding the fry likewise migrate down stream, but in a much more gradual
manner : on the Himalayas they are often detained in the pools of the streams throughout the dry months,
being unable to descend until the next year's rains. The same thing obtams an the low country in a
modified form, where the fry are found to abound in flooded localities, and durmg the rams e^•e^y little
stream and piece of water connected therewith is resorted to by them to obtain food m. They are
also found in sheltered spots at the edges of rivers and in shallow pieces of water where there is no
current to wash them away. . a i j c i j

During seasons of inundation many fish ascend small channels into irrigated or flooded helds
for the purpose of breeding : at these times they appear to have lost much of their natural timidity
and are only solicitous to reach a suitable locality to deposit their ova. During this period they are
trapped throughout the length and breadth of India and Burma. Fishing weirs are permitted to extend
across rivers, and "as the waters from above become unwholesome, fish attempt in vam to descend, but
the owners of these weirs allow no passage, and as they die in myriads, cart them off as manure^^
(Oflicial Report). " Damming, lading out and poisoning waters are freely resorted to for fishing purposes.
In Oudh " the reports from four native officials give 68,300 maunds of fry as yearly killed m then-
district alone." In the Madras Presidency the size of the mesh of the nets employed at the period the
fry are about is variously reported as follows : Will catch a black ant, detain a mosquito, or even
capture a fish eo-g. In Assam, it is stated, " in the shallow waters in the rice-fields women and
children may be° seen in crowds fishing with baskets, through the interstices of which a tadpole could
not pass Those that escape this danger, and following the flow of water, an-ive at one of the innumerable
little bunds separating the various paddy-fields, find their further progress barred by funnel-shaped
bamboo traps, through which the water is made to pass, but whose outlets are so small that only the
most minute fish can get through. Escaping to the smaller water-courses their dangers seem to increase.
The channels are divided into sections by erecting bunds, and from one of these they proceed to bale
out all the water, capturing every fish, large and small : they then form another bund and bale ofi^ another
portion in its turn. The fish finally arriving at the smaller rivers find their exit barred by weirs which
will let nothing pass, and not content with this, the Assamese will sometimes resort to poison." _ . ■ ,

The fixed engines are mainly constructed of cotton, hemp, aloe fibre, coir, or some such elastic material :
or else of split bamboo, rattan, reed, grass, or some more or less inelastic substance. The mesh is so
minute that in places water may be said to be strained through it. A common plan is to fix across a
river a net shaped like a wall with a bag in the centre ; towards this all the fish are driven, or even a
second net is dragged towards it. Fine-meshed nets are even attached to the sluices of tanks, or to wherever
water is let out of a field. In hilly districts until the first rush of the water has subsided the weirs
cannot be employed, but after that they come into use, and the fish descending from their spawning beds
are entrapped. In short, every conceivable variety of trap is employed by the agriculturists, while sniall
nets or baskets of various forms and shapes are hung over weirs just above the water: breeding fash
finding this barrier in their way try to overcome it by jumping, and many are captured by falhng into

^"nP^P POTlt'Fl VfljTlCGS

Movable fishing implements, as nets with various sized meshes, are used much as follows. When the
fry are first moving about, those having a minute mesh are employed to capture the tiny creatures : as the
fish become larger the size of the mesh of the net increases : small wall nets are dragged up water-
courses where fry abound : purse nets are employed in similar localities. Or these movable mplements
may be composed of inelastic materials as already described, while some weirs are thus formed. Of the native
ofiicials reporting upon the size of the mesh or interstices of these constructions, 91 replied as follows :
5 gave the interspace between knot and knot at 1 inch : 5 at less than 1 inch : 18 at 1/2 an inch :
5 at 1/3 of an inch : 24 at 1/4 of an inch : and 34 at from 1/5 to 1/32 part of an inch.

Rivers are sometimes diverted in order to capture the fish, or streams if sluggish are dammed
and laded out, or waters are poisoned, the captures being sent to neighbouring villages for disposal, ^ight-
lines, spearing, shooting, are all in vogue to obtain the fresh-water fish. One mode ot employing
hooks is to fix a row on a line in a pass in a hill stream, when if the waters are very muddy some fash
are hooked as they attempt to ascend to their spawning-beds or to descend after breeding : others escape
horribly injured. The right of " snatching" appears to have been sold in some places by the revenue
authorities; this right or amusement is thus described. A cord is armed with large iron hooks at
intervals of two or three feet, by means of bits of wood they are retained with their points uppermost^
This line is thrown across a stream and kept about two feet below the surface, a nian on each
bank holding either end. Then other persons with poles beat the water and drive the fish up stream,
and as one is seen passing over this inhuman instrument of capture, the cord is jerked m order tiiat a
hook may transfix the game. Dexterity is said to have resulted from constant practice ; many hsh are
thus captured, but more perhaps get away crippled to sicken and die a lingering death.*

Of the vermin which destroy fish we have many forms, but none that approach destructive man
who appears to be attempting to exterminate the supply. There is the fish-eatmg or long-snouted

* For the different poaching practices to catch fish employed in India and B
"Fresh-water Fibljer}- lieport," 1873.

;urma and remedies proposed, see

h *

xii INTRODUCTION.

crocodile, Gavialis Gangeticus, Gmelin, which attains upwards of 20 feet in length and is found throughout
the Indus, Ganges, Jumna, Brahmaputra, Mahamuddee and their affluents. Native fishermen do not
destroy them, looking upon them as fellow sportsmen. The snub-nosed or man-eating crocodiles, Crocodilus
palustris, Less., and G. porosus, Schn., are found in most parts of India, and assist in depopulating
the waters of fish. Otters do a considerable injury to fisheries, especially in hUl streams, but I have
observed one redeeming point : they destroy the large frogs which cause great destruction amongst
fish ova and fry in the paddy-fields. There are many other minor enemies, as wading birds, snakes,
tortoises, turtles, and the Gangetic porpoise, Platanista Gangetica.

But the question comes. Of what econonic value are these fresh-ivater fisheries? and What
proportion of the native population of India and Burma employ fish as food ? Fish enter more into the
diet of the urban than they do into that of the rural population in India, as in the former localities
(if we except the Brahmaus), its consumption is only limited by the amount of the supply and the
cost of the article. I extract the following from official returns. In Sind fish is generally eaten except
by Brahmans : in the North- West Provinces containing about 28 millions of people, out of 20 returns
received, 17 give more than half the population as not forbidden by their religion to eat fish: and the
same is observed in Oudh, the Bombay Presidency, Mysore and Coorg. In South Canara the collector
estimated those who eat fish at 89 per cent, of the population : in Bengal proper 90 to 95 per cent. :
in Assam and Chittagong nearly the entire population : while in Burma it is universally consumed in
the form of nga-pee.*

How are the marlcets supplied ? Out of 243 returns made by officials from the Punjab, North-West
Provinces, Sind, Oudh, and the other localities already referred to, 180 observe that the markets are
insufficiently supplied : 7 that they are occasionally : 3 that they are fairly so : 45 that they are fully so,
but 9 of these remark that it is chiefly with marine forms which often are salted : while 8 are doubtful.
Thus the markets fully supplied are not one-fifth of the total, and one-fifth of these obtain their supply
from the sea.

If we now turn to the Geographical distribution of the fresh-water fishes of India we perceive
that more than one theory has been advanced in order to explain how vertebrates obtained access to Hindustan.
Mr. Wallace remarks that "the great land masses of the Northern hemisphere are of immense antiquity,
and the area in which the higher forms of life were developed. In going back through the long series of
Tertiary formations in Europe, Asia and North America we find a continuous succession of vertebrate
forms including all the highest types now existing or that have existed on the earth. * * That here
alone were developed the successive types of vertebrata fi-om the highest to the lowest," and successive
waves of life swept southwards. " During the Miocene period, when a sub-tropical climate prevailed over
much of Europe and Central Asia, there would be no such marked contrast as that which now prevails
between temperate and tropical zones; and at this time much of our Oriental region, perhaps, formed a
hardly separable portion of the great Paliearctic land. But when from unknown causes, the climate of
Europe became less genial, and when the elevation of the Himalayan chains and the Mongolian plateau
caused an abrupt difference of climate on the northern and southern sides of that great mountain barrier,
a tropical and a tempeiute region were necessarily formed : and many of the animals which once roamed
over the greater part of the older and more extensive region, now became restricted to its southern or
northern division respectively. Then came the great change we have already described opening the
newly-formed plains of Central Africa to the incursions of the higher forms of Europe ; and following on
this, a still further deterioration in climate, resulting in that marked contrast between temperate and
tropical faunas, which is now one of the most prominent features in the distribution of animal as well
as of vegetable forms."

Several good zoologists have considered the African element to be very largely represented in India,
or as observed by Mr. Blanford (Ann. and Mag. 1876, p. 294), its vertebrate fauna contains three elements,
derived at three ditferent periods from countries which were or had been in connection with Africa. The
first of these consists of the forms common to the Ethiopian and Oriental region. These are in India the
bulk of the fauna. The second consists of forms common to the Ethiopian region and India, but which
do not extend to the Eastward of the Bay of Bengal : nor are they represented in the portion of South-
western Asia now lying on the direct line between India and Africa. The third is composed of species
with Ethiopian affinities which may have wandered into India from Arabia and Beloochistan.

Some insight into the tenability of the foregoing opinions may perhaps be found in briefly
examining the distribution of the fi-esh-water fishes at present existing. Although mountain chains or
sandy deserts may be insuperable obstacles to the extension of fishes in certain directions, no less impassable

* Ngapee is a Burmese term employed for a preparation of fish or crnstacca. If fish are the constituents they
may be employed whole or pounded. The general mode in the former is to cnt off the head of the lish. and if large it
is split in two, cleaned, dried a few hours in the sun : salt is now rubbed into it, and it, along with others, is packed
into a jar, from which they are removed the next day and treated m a similar manner. In large ti.sheries where many have
to be preserved, a hole is dug in the ground where tliey are placed in long bamboo baskets in alternate layers of fish and
salt aud the whole buried for some time. There are many modes of preparing Ngapee. Of this substance the Chief Commissioner
remarked : — " The quantity consumed in our territory is not known accurately, hut the average yearly export to L'jipcr Burma
during the past four years has been upwards of 716,0(10 tons, with a value of £170,000; aud the home cousuniptiou in British
Burma is certainly far greater than the quantity exported."

INTRODUCTION. xiii

to the fresh-water species is a tract of salt water, or a narrow arm of the sea. It is absolutely essential for
the migrations of these fishes that fresh-water continuity should be unbroken, while to admit this it seems
reasonable to insist that a land connection must have been present for the existence of the fresh-water to be
possible. If, therefore, forms of fre^b-water fishes are found in the islands of the Indian Ocean identical
with those on the mainland, it does not seem unreasonable* to suppose that the two localities have been
connected one with the other at some antecedent period.

Of the 87 Genera of fresh-water fishes to which I have to allude, we find the distribution to be as
follow : —

5 restricted to the Himalayas or Tartarian forms.

69 in Hindustan ; of these 38 extend to the Malay Archipelago.

8 restricted to Ceylon, of which 4 are found in Burma and 5 in the Malay Archipelago.

5 in Burma, 4 of which extend to the Malay Archipelago.

Out of those genera which are extended from India to the Malay Archipelago, 12 are common to
Africa, India, and the Malay Archipelago : while 2 only are restricted to Africa and India, and both these
forms are found in the intervening Mediterraneo- Persic sub-region. In the Indian fresh-water fishes of the
present period, the Malayan element is far more developed than the African.

Of the 14 Genera at present existing in both Africa and India, we find that 9 are strictly confined
to fresh waters, as in them there are no species which reside in the seas or estuaries : of these 7 are lilcewise
found in the Mediterraneo-Persic sub-region, and it is therefore reasonable to suppose that it may have
been by that route that they obtained access into India.

Of the sub-regions of India and Burma we have first, the Geylonese, extending from Goa down the
Western coast of India including Canara and Malabar, with the Western ghauts, to Ceylon : passing along
the Neilgherries, its piscifauna joins with that of the Hindustan sub-region in Mysore, while in the
Carnatic°it in like manner passes as far as the river Kistna. 27 Genera of fresh-water fishes have been
found in the island of Ceylon, all but one of which (Ghanna) are common to the mainland.

This Geylonese sub-region possesses several elements in it which appear to point out the advisability
of separating it from that of the plains of India. Thus we find the Genera Pristulepis and Sicydium in
Malabar or Canara, absent from the plains of Hindustan, but reappearing in Burma: the Ophiocephalus
micropeltes and the siluroid Glarias Dussumieri, have a nearly similar distribution. Ghanna is restricted
to Ceylon and China. Polyacanthus is found in this sub-region, but elsewhere nowhere nearer than the
Malay Archipelago ; in fact one species is restricted to the island of Ceylon and to Java. Silurus in the
Western ghauts and Himalayas, but not in the Hindustan sub-region. The Cyprinoid genus Hoinaloptera
has two species on the Western ghauts identical with those on the Himalayas, but the Genus is absent from
the intervening country, being otherwise restricted to Burma and the Malay Archipelago. Genus Scaphiodon
extends from "Syria to Siud and along the Western ghauts of India. The siUiroid Genus Englyptosternum
is found both in Syria and along the base of the Himalayas. The Genus Etroplus is restricted to this
sub-reo-ion, but a nearly allied form has been found in Madagascar. These few facts may be variously
interpreted, but they appear to show that from Syria and the Mediterraneo-Persic region we have
Northern forms extended along the Western ghauts of India and likewise along the base of the Himalayas.
They also seem to demonstrate that some close connection must have existed in times gone by between
the Geylonese and Malayan sub-regions.

The Hindustan sub-region is that large alluvial tract which extends from the Himalayas and
the mountain ranges of Sind southwards to meet the Geylonese sub-region, it also embraces the valley
of the Brahmaputra. Out of the 69 Genera of fresh-water fishes found in this area 64 extend to Burma,
and 38 of these to the Malay Archipelago, while 15 are common to the Patearctic region ; and there is,
as might be expected, a larger proportion of Burmese forms in Assam than elsewhere in India ; while the
Genera restricted to the area of this sub-region are no more than 5, and, with the exception of Sisor,
it possesses no well marked local forms. . .

The Himalayan sub-region cannot be included with that of the plains of India; it is true that
some varieties of fish ascend there to breed or even to reside there. Finding tropical valleys in the.se
elevated districts suitable to their necessities, it is not surprising that following their prey up the streams,
they may have been cut off from a return to the plains. Some of the tropical forms which are found
there have become modified for a life in hill torrents as Pseudecheneis (p. 500), which possesses a sucker
formed of transverse folds situated on its chest between its pectoral fins and by aid of which it keeps
itself from being washed away : Ghiptosternum (p. 496) is another .siluroid genus, also with an adhesive
sucker on the chest, but with longitudinal folds : the fish of this last genus (although some are found in
the Himalayas) seem to be adapted more for rapid rivers of the plains : Exostoma (p. 501) is another
remarkable form extending along the Himalayas to Thibet and China, as well as the spur or continuation
southwards through Burma and Siam. But once near the summits of the Himalayas, we come
across the true Tartarian or Turkestan forms. Here there are carps which have but little relationship

* 1 omit from this di.^cnssinn the oft-repeated tale of geese swallowing fish egg?, which were subsequently voided
uninjured and with ihcir vitality imimpMi.ed ! It mav be that aquatic birds have had tlieir maws filled with fasli ova and Hying
some short dislauce have disgorged such unimpaired, their vitality still remaining. The action of wh rlwinds I have already
adverted to.

xiT INTRODUCTION.

to those of the plains of India, -^-here only stragglers are to be occasionally found and then rarely far
from the base of these mountain ranges. The Schizothoracinj: or Hill barbels are carps more or less
covered with minute scales or destitute of any. They have a membranous sac or slit anterior to the anal
tin, which is laterally bounded by a row of vertically placed scales, like eave-tiles, and which are
continued along the base of the anal fin. They are conhned to cold regions or at least to localities
possessing snow -fed rivers, many of which rivers end in lakes and do not go to the sea. They extend
from Eastern Afghanistan and Western Turkestan through Tibet and the most westerly districts of
China. One of the Genera (Oreitms) having a sucker behind the lower lip is able to exist in the rivers
of the sub-Himalayan range. Here then is a group of fish which has not spread to the alluvial plains
of India from the Himalayas, they being evidently residents of cold climates.

Burmese and Siamese sub-region. — Of this it is merely the Western portion or that of Burma that claims
our attention. In it we find 63 Genera of fresh-water fish recorded : 4 are found in it and in the
Ceylonese, but not in the Hindustan sub-region, 5 are restricted to Burma : and .54 are common to it
and to the Hindustan sub-region : out of the 63 Genera 41 extend to the Malay Archipelago. But it
must not be overlooked that I have included Assam in the sub-region of Hindustan, and for the following
reason, owing to the Brahmaputra river entering the Gangetic system, an easy mems exists for enabling fishes
to belong to both deltas, in fact very many forms appear to be found in the three large watersheds of the
Brahmaputra, Ganges and Indus. Similarly we find the fish-eating crocodile Gavialis Ganiieticus
common to all, but not extended to the Ceylonese sub-region nor to Burma.

Omitting for the present from whence the type forms of vertebrate life were derived, we require
to know how it is that some of the identical species of fish are found along the Western ghauts of India
and in the Himalayas, but absent from the sub-region of Hindustan ? and how is it we see some genera
identical in Ceylon and in the Malay Archipelago or in China, but absent from India and Burma ?

The presence of certain Chinese, Malayan, Burmese and Siamese foi-ms in Ceylon and in the
Western ghauts, with their absence from the intervening alluvial plains of Hindustan, leads to the
supposition already touched npon that, at an antecedent date some connection existed between these earlier
geological formations and the more eastern countries. We observe some identical forms in the island
of Ceylon and in Java or China, but absent from intervening localities : but does this prove more than
that some of those intervening stations have passed away, having been perhaps submerged in the Indian
Ocean ? Between Ceylon and the islands of the Malay Archipelago are the Nicobars, not far removed
are the Andamans. I have examined some fresh-water fishes (Nuria) from the Nicobars, from
■whence they were brought by Mr. Ball, and find them identical with the species existing in India and
Burma. I have personally examined some streams at the Andamans, from which I obtained Ophiocephalus
gaclma and Haplochilus panchax, both common to the mainland, and these would seem to point out that
a land connection may have existed between these islands and Burma, perhap)S being also extended to
Ceylon and the Malabar coast.

If this was the route by which fish obtained access from Malaysia to Ceylon, may they not in like
manner have been diffused along the hills of Siam and Burma to the Himalayas ? and this would account
for such forms as Siliirus, common to these three regions, to the two species of Homalupfera. existing in
the Western ghauts and also on the Himalayas. And when we find that the Genera Sihirus, Exostoma,
and to a great extent Oreinus are still found thriving along the whole extent of the Himalayas from
Afghanistan on one hand to China or even Siam on the other, we perceive that such a view is not
contrary to present existing facts.

In the alluvial plains of Hindustan there appear to be traces of two piscifaunas, one from the
North conjoined with the Ethiopian, and one from the East obtained again from ^lalaysia by way of
Burma and Assam. Whether these plains at one period had a wholly Malayan fauna as some suppose I
shall not discuss, the late Dr. Stoliczka considered that such was the case, but it became more or less
destroyed in those parts which were afiected by the enormous volcanic eruptions, characterized as the
trap formation of Central and North-West India. It was after this time that he supposed the
African element obtained access to the Hindustan sub-region, and it may have been so, but as already
shown it entered (if we take fish as our guide) by way of the Mediterraneo-Persic sub-region, and we
still find genera of the latter region (not found in Africa) along the Western ghauts of India {ScajjJdodon)
and also at the base of the Himalayas (Eughjiitosternum).

Whether this element never extended to any considerable extent to Eastern Bengal or whether the
Burmese forms subsequently obtained a preponderance there, or whether as seen in Discognathus lamta,
it is still spreading, are problems requiring .solution, but it is quite certain that at the present time the
Malayan element is in the majority in the plains of Hindustan, due perhaps to a second wave of fish-life
received from the East.

Space prevents my entering upon the question from whence these types of genera have originally
been derived ? Are they all or only some of Pala?arctic origin ? Have modifications occurred in fish as
they have neared the Tropics, by which we could account for all the various families and genera which
we now perceive ?

I would first remark that Acanthoptertgiax or spiny-rayed forms of fresh-water fishes in India
are most numerous in maritime districts, next in the deltas of large rivers, while they decrease as we
proceed far inland. The CrPEixiD^ and SiLnRiDj; are the chief elemeuts of the Indian fresh-water

INTRODUCTION. xv

fish fauna, as out of 69 Genera 35 are CarjJs, 26 Siluroids, and 19 AcantJiopterygians, of whicli last 6 are
modified by an amphibious respiration for special tropical requirement ; and of these last forms the family
which has the widest distribution is the amphibious OpUocephalidcB, which is likewise the one in which
true spines are the least developed.

The Acanthopterygian Indian ft-esh-water forms probably had a marine ancestry, several of the
genera still having marine species, but not so the Carps. The most important genus of Indian carps is
Barhus, possessing about 70 representatives in India, a genus which is likewise found in Europe.
We find the largest forms ascending to the colder regions of the hills to deposit their ova : and the
species of the genus being of the smallest size in the hot plains where they breed : along with these
peculiarities we observe as a rule that similar to the European barbel, we have 4 appendages to the
mouth (barbels) in the large forms, 2 in those of medium size, but none in the smaller forms of the
plains. It would appear that it is not improbable that many genera of Carps are Palsearctic, their
type-progenitors having been derived from a northern ancestry : but there are others, as Romaloptera,
Fsilorhynchus, Semiplotm, Catla TkijnnicMhijs, Amblypliarijngodon, Aspidoparia, Bohtee, Chela and their
allies, which are no less of Oriental origin, and I hesitate to accept the theory that such are merely
modified northern genera.

Respecting the scaleless Siluridj;, they as the Acanthopteetgii are perhaps modified marine forms. In
them the air-vessel or air-bladder possesses two distinct functional ofiices. In the Acanthoptertgians
where this organ is destitute of a pneumatic duct its use (excluding the question of its connection with
the internal ear) appears primarily to be a mechanical one, viz., for the purpose of maintaining a required
level in the water, and permitting the fish to rise or fall as desired. In the majority of carps (CtfriniDjE)
in addition to the foregoing function, a pneumatic tube connects it with the pharynx or upper portion
of the alimentary canal, and also a chain of ossicles with the internal ear. In fact, it serves both for
the purpo.se of hearing and also for flotation. But in the sheat-fishes (Sildkid^) the power of employing
this air-vessel as a float appears to be subservient to that of hearing. Living as they do the life of
ground feeders and mostly restricted to muddy localities, this organ is more usefully restricted to acoustic
purposes, while the feelers round their mouths permit them to move about with ease and safety, and
their organs of hearing to ascertain the vicinity of an enemy or the approach of some incautious prey.
In marine forms we meet with this air-vessel having a thick outer fibrous layer and attached to
the lower surface of the bodies and transverse processes of some of the anterior vertebrae, while a chain
of ossicles connects it to the internal ear. As however we pass inland or towards mountains, a change
occurs, the air-vessel being partially or entirely surrounded by bone. This may be effected by a trumpet-
shaped extension of the lateral processes of the first or second vertebra: or else by an expansion of the
most posterior of the auditory ossicles, but in either case the chain of bones is continued to the internal
ear. This being a modification of what we perceive in the Indian marine forms seems to lead to the
conclusion that it is through such that the fresh-water species may have been derived.

Having briefly adverted to the fresh-water fish and fisheries, it becomes necessary to offer a few
remarks upon those of the sea. They not only exist in the open sea and along the coast, but so far as
tidal influence extends up large rivers, backwaters and estuaries. Opposite certain places on the coasts
of the ]\Iadras Presidency, vast mud banks are present, but they are so fluid as to enable many kinds of
fish to find abundance of food there, immunity from disturbance in the surrounding element such as exists
in the open sea, and an excellent locality for breeding purposes.

Contrary to what obtains in the fresh-water fisheries, there is no paucity of the finny tribes in the
sea, but owing to some unfortunate cause, the harvest remains comparatively untouched. But before we
condemn the apathy of the native fishermen it will be as well to inquire whether a market exists for the
fish were they to capture them? or is the fisherman's occupation directly or indirectly affected by laws
and regulations rendering it impossible under present circumstances to carry on his trade in a profitable
manner ?

If the fisherman has but a limited market for fish when captured, he naturally carries on his industry
where he can do so with the least amount of expense and toil, which must be effected by taking the
smaller kinds that can be dried with ease, and do not require a large outlay on salt. These smaller
fish prefer the vicinity of the shore where they obtain their food, but by destroying the small kinds
and the Crustacea, the fisherman is removing from the waters that which decoys the larger and more
predaceous ones in. As a result he scares away what should be the natural supply, and to the
uneducated eye the amount in the waters appears to have diminished. This does not concern the
fisherman so long as his trade supplies his family requirements, neither does it occasion much injury
if there is only a local demand and salt is not available for preserving the surplus.

I do not intend adverting in this place to the various modes of fishing at present being carried
on along the coasts of India and Burma,* but purpose making a few remarks on the fishes of the
Indian Ocean.

A considerable diflFerence is observable in the regularity with which certain large droves of
gregarious fishes as the mackerel {Scomber microlepidotus, p. 260) or the oil sardine {Clupea lonyiceps, p. 637)

* See description in "JJeport on Sea Fisheries," 1873.

XTi INTRODUCTION.

appear, in some years very abundant, in others they are comparatively rare : still it is certain that those which
come at particular seasons do so for breeding purposes, full of roe when they arrive, deficient in it prior to
their departure, and the young being found in abundance shortly after their arrival, while they were not
previously present, can lead us to no other conclusion.

The sea fisheries of India ought to be exceedingly valuable as affording an inexhaustible supply
of animal food not only to those living in their vicinity, but also inland did means exist to transport the
fish either in a fresh or dried state. The distance these fishes can be conveyed fresh inland depends
on several causes :* the season may curtail this. In some places the captures are brought on shore in the
morning and have to be taken through the sun, but on the other hand if lauded in the evening coolies will
not convey them during the dark to distant places. Where water facilities or those by rail exist they may be
carried some distance. It is not uncommon to open and clean the fish and rub some salt earth inside
which keeps it fresher than it otherwise would be, but small or immature fish decay more rapidly than
larger ones. I think it may be safely assumed that fresh fish as a rule cannot be conveyed inland by
coolies above ten miles so as to be sanitarily fit for human consumption: but if tliey are opened, cleaned,
internally salted, and taken with care, by being shaded as much as possible from the sun's rays, they
may be carried considerably further.

Seeing that fresh fish are obtainable only by the residents of or near the coasts while the sea is
swarming with the finny tribes, we have to inquire are they captui'ed in excess of local demands and if
so how are they disposed of ?

Dried Jlsh are largely prepared along the coasts, which can be done with the smaller and thinner
species, as Equvla (p. 237), Trichiuriis (p. 200), many of the Herrings, the Bombay duck, Harpodon
nehereus (p. 605), and numerous others, but for the larger forms this is inappropriate unless in the form
of slices cut from them and sun-dried. Sun-dried fish are found wholesale in the Bombay Presidencj,
but " whether fish is dried as above in preference to being salted," remarks the Collector of Tanna, " I
have been unable to ascertain. It is very probable that it has been resorted to in the place of curing by
salt, consequent on the excise duty levied on salt." As we proceed down the coast (I am here speaking
from personal observations made in 1872-73), we find the people permitted to gather salt earth for this
purpose, and as a consequence they prepare their fish with it in preference to its being simply sun-dried.
But ascending the Coromandel coast we are told, " I believe that all the salting much of this so-called
cured fish gets is being buried in the sea sand, and thus getting slightly briny " (Collector of TricJdnopoli/).
Passing up the Easteim coast we find in Bengal drying in the sun the almost sole means employed for
curing fish. Whereas in Burma sun-dried fish is scarcely alluded to in the official reports. This brings us
face to face with the question of the reason for this, and whatever may be the cause the following are facts.
Wherever salt is expensive the natives have a preference (? due to cost) to sun-dried fish : where salt is
cheap,t this mode of preparation is but little employed.

Salted fish are cured with (1) monopoly or excised salt, and (2) with salt earth or spontaneous but
untaxed salt. In Sind and India the best salt fish is prepared in the proportion of about 1 part of salt
to 3 of fish: if salt earth is made use of nearly 3 parts of it to 1 part of fish is required.

The salt fish trade of Bombay is almost " exclusively the produce of neighbouring foreign ports,"
observes the Deputy Commissioner of the Salt Revenue, and the reason is not far to seek, as the duty per
maund of .salt was 29 annas in Bombay : while the cost of the whole article in these foreign ports (as
Goa, Daumaun, and Diu) is " 2 annas a maund if as much," and where the salt is so cheap more can be
afibrded to be used, consequently the foreign article is superior. In the Madras Presidenc}' excised salt is
sometimes employed if the better class of salt fish is desired, as for export to Ceylon, to be taken far inland, or
for personal consumption.

Salt earth or spontaneous salt is largely employed in places, as it is untaxed, at the same time
its use for this purpose is declared illegal. But in some localities the dwellers may employ it to prepare
fish for their own use, and subsequently there is no law to impede their disposing of their surplus stock.
"Of this salt earth," says the Collector of Malabar, "the people dislike it, asserting that it imparts a
bitter and unpleasant savour to food and brings on that common complaint in Malabar the itch." In
Tanjnre that fish so prepared soon becomes wormy and rotton. But the poor are unable to be too
particular as to the taste of their food, a far more important consideration being the coH.

Speaking of the cost of salt as it was (it is raised now) a few figures will explain the foregoing.
About 82 lbs. weight of salt in Madras cost about 32 annas : with this desci'iption of salt about
246 lbs. of fish could be cured ; omitting wastage and the purchase of the fish we find over 4 maunds,
or 328 lbs., costing 32 annas. If untaxed salt earth is employed the cost is from 1/6 to 1/3 of an anna
a basket, which is less than 1/4 of an anna for 82 lbs. It requires, however, three times as much

* Many civil officers object to doing anything in view of the good of fi.sheries. One Collector at Balasore observed
"the people of this district do not salt their fish, they dry it in the sun and eat it when quite putrid. They like it in this way,
and there is no rea.son v»hy they should be interfered with." Having persoually visited this locality, 1 may add as a commentary that
a native Zemindar's opinion was "chcjUra was made for these people."

f Since my investigations were completed the .salt ta.x h.as been equalizea in India, or raised in the Madras Presidency,
and still more so in Sind. If my views are correct the returns of 1879 will show a great reduction of salted fish in Sind and a
considerable falling off of the article in Jladras.

INTRODUCTION. x?n

of this to cure fish as it does of the excised salt. If we omit the extra weight of this salt earth we
find the cost of 328 lbs. of fish thus prepared costing 1 anna instead of 32 annas, or should twice
the weight of this salt to the weight of the fish be used, as is done in the better description, the
cost is 2 annas instead of 32, or of a difference of 1600 per cent, in the production. The chief
consumers of this article are the poorer classes, and were the tased salt to be employed salt fish would
be entirely beyond the reach of those who now purcliase it.

Tlio following figures show how the salt-fish trade has flourished on the Western coast of
Madras where the people could collect the .salt earth for curing the fish and how it has languished on
the Eastern coast where this has not been permitted. The exports show as follows, tlie value being stated
in rupees : — •

Eastern coast, ?

„ ?

„ 17,.531.

„ 45,137.

5 years ending 1857-58, Western coast, 321,950:
„ 1862-63, „ „ 628,624:

„ 1867-68, „ „ 1,118,991:

„ 1872-73, „ „ 1,780,888:

In the last year the return from Travancoi'e not having been received, an average of the five
preceding years, or R 133,237, has been added to the total.

It appears, in short, that the fisheries are in a very depressed state wherever salt is expensive
or the use of the untaxed salt earth prohibited : that they are flourishing where salt is cheap or the use
of untaxed salt earth permitted : that monopoly salt is scarcely purchased for the purpose of curing fish
eaten by the majority of the consumers, owing to the enormous rise it occasions in the price of the
article : that fish is extensively cured with salt earth where permitted, but that such a food is a fruitful
cause of disease as the article will not keep for any lengthened period, but it is preferable to the simply
sun-dried article : that where the use of salt earth is prohibited, fish curers are driven to dry their
fish in the sun, give up their trade, or purchase monopoly salt, and should they do this last they have
to keep down the price of the article by reducing the cost of the raw fish and employing a minimum
amount of salt.

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

Sub-class, I— Teleostei.*
ORDER, I— ACANTHOPTERYGir.
Family, I — PEKCiDi:.

PAGE

1 Lates,* Cuv. and Val. . . 7

2 Cromileptes, Hwamso^i . . 8

3 Serranus, Cuvier ... 9

4 Variola, Swainson ... 26

5 Grammistes, Cuvier ... 27

6 Uip1o|irion, Cuv. and Val. . . 28

7 Myrioi.loii, Bris. . . . 747

8 Lutianus, Bloch ... 29

9 Priacanllius, C«v. and Val. . 4S

10 Amliassis, Cuv. and Val. . ■ 49

1 1 Apogon, Lacepede ... 56

12 Clieilodipterus, Cuv. and Val. . b5

13 Hules, Cuv. and Val. ... 67

14 Therapon, Cuu. ... 68

15 Datnia, Cuv. aiid Val. . . 71

16 Helotes, Cuv 72

17 Pristipoma, Cuv. ... 72

18 Hapalogenys, Rich. . . .76

19 Uiagramma, Cuv. ... 77

20 Lobotes, Cuv 83

21 Scolopsis, Cuv. and Val. ■ . 84

22 Dentex, Guv 89

2.j Synagris Giintker ... 90

24 Aprion, Cuv. and Vail. . . 746

25 Pentapu.s, tuv 93

26 Smaris, Cuv 94

27 C'tesio, Cuv. .... 94

28 Datnioides, Blether ... 96

29 Gerres, Ciiu 96

30 Pentaprion, Bleeker . . .101

Family, II — Squamimnnes.

1 Cha;todou, Cuv. . . .103

2 I helmo, Cuv 109

3 llonioQhus, Cuv. and Val. . .110

4 Zaticlus, Cuv. and Val. . .111

5 Holacanthus, Lacdp. . .111

6 8catophagu.s, tuv. and Val. . 114

7 Kphippns, C'mu 115

8 Drepaue, Cuv. and Val. . . 115

9 Toxotes, Cuv. . . .116

Family, III — Mullid.e.

1 V ppneoides, Bleeker . . .119

2 Mulloides, B'eekcr . . .122

3 Upeueus, Bledcer . . . 123

Family, IV — Xandid.e,

1 Plesiop.*, Cuvier . . .127

2 Badis, Bleeker . . . .12^

3 JSandiis, Ciiw. and Val. . . 129

4 Pribtulepis, Jerdon . . .130

Family, V — Spakid.e.

1 Crenidcn.s. Cuv. and Val. . .132

2 Sargus, Cuv 133

3 Lethrinus, Cuv. , . .134

4 Sphairooon, Kiippell . . .138

5 Pagrus, Cuv 138

6 Chrysophrys, Cuv. . . . H9

7 Pimelepterus, Cuv. . . .142

Family, VI — CiRRHixiDiE.

1 Cirrbites, Cuv 141

2 Cirrhitichthys, Bleeker . .145

Family, VII— Scokp.enid^.

1 Seba.sticlithys, Gill. . ■ .148

2 Scorpa-na, Arledi . . . 149

3 Scorpajuopsis, Ileckel . . .150

4 Pterois, Cuv. . . . .152

5 Apistus, Cuv 154

6 Centropogon, Giintlier . .155

7 Gymnapistus, tiwwins. . . 156

8 Amblyapistus, Bleeker . .157

9 Mici'opus, Gray .... 158

10 Minous, Cuv. and Val. . .159

11 Cocotropus, Kaup. . . .159

12 Pelor, Cuv. and Val. . ■ .160

13 Clioridactylus, Bicliard. . . 161

14 Synancidium, Mull. . . .162

15 Synanceia, Bl. Sctin. . . . Ib3

16 Pseudosynaiiceia, Day . .163

17 Polycaulis, Giwither . . '. 163

Family, VUI — TEUxHiDiDiE.
1 Teuthis, Linn. ....

Family, IX — BERYCiDiE.

1 Jlyripristis, Cuv.

2 Huluceutrum, Arledi .

Family, X — Kiktid.*;.

1 Kurtus, Bloch ....

2 Pempheris, Cuv. and Val. .

Family, XI — Polynemid.e.
1 Polynemus, Idnn.

Family, XII — SciiENiD^.

1 Umbrina, Cuv. ....

2 Sciaena, Cuv. ....

3 Sciajnoides, Blyth

4 Otolithus, Cuv. ....

Family, XIII — Xipuiid.e.
1 Ilistiophorus, Laccp. .

Family, XIV — Tiuchiukid.e.
1 Trichiurus, Linn.

Family, XV — Acanthlrid^.

165

169
170

174
175

176

181
184
193
195

198

I Acantliurus, Bloch

202

2 Naseus, Commerson

208

Family, XVI— Caraxgid.!:.

1 Caraux, Lacep. .

210

2 Micropteryx, Agass. .

226

3 Seriola, Cuv.

227

4 St-rioliclithy.s, Bleeker .

228

5 Naucrates, Cuv.

228

6 Ghiirinemus, Cuv. and Val.

229

7 Tracliynotus, Cuv. and Val.

232

8 Pscttus, Cuv. and Val.

234

9 Platax, Cuv. and Val.

235

10 Eijuula, Cuv. aiid Val.

237

1 1 Ga/.za. Riipp.

243

12 Lactarius, Cuv. and Val.

244

200

Family, XVIa — Nomeidje.
I Psenes, Cuv. and Val. . . 237

F.uiiLY, XVII — .Stromateid^.

1 Stromateus, Arledi . . . 246

Family, XVIII — Corypii.exid^.

1 Coryph.x'na. Cuv. and Val. . . 248

2 Meiie, Lacep 249

Family, XIX — Scombrid.e.

1 Scomber, Artedi . . . 250

2 Tliyunus, Cuv. and Val. . .251

3 L'ybiiim, Cuv 254

4 Elacate, Cuv. .... 256

5 Ecbeueis, Artedi . . . 257

Family, XX — Uranosoopid^e.

1 Urauoscopus, Cuv. . . . 260

2 icbtbyscopus, Suiains. . . 261

Family, XXI — Tracuixid.e.

1 Percis, Bl. Schn. . . . 262

2 Sillago, Cuv 204

Family, XXII — Pseudochromides.

1 Opistbognathus, Cuv. .

2 P.seudochromis, Riipp.

F.\MiLY', XXIII — Batuaciiidj;.
1 Batrachus, Bl. Schn.

Family, XXIV— Pedkll.4ti.

1 Antennarius, Cuv.

2 Halieutaja, Cuv. and Val. .

Family, XXV— Cuttid.e.
1 Platycepbalus, B!. Helm.

266

267

269

271
273

274

* A .synopsis is given of all tbe species in each genus imiiicdiately following the definition.

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

XIX

Family, XXVI — Cataphracti.

1 Dactylopterus, Lacip. . . 279

2 Pegasus, Linn 279

Family, XXVII— Gobiid^e.

1 Gobius, Artedi .... 282

2 Gobiodon, Bleeker . . . 297

3 8icydium, Cuv. and Val. . . 298

4 Apocryxites, Cuv. and Val. . . 299

5 Apocryptichtbys, Day . . 302

6 Periophthalmus, Bl. Schn. . . 303

7 Boleophthalmns, Cuv. and, Val. . 304

8 Bostrichthys, C. Dumeril . . 308

9 Eleotri.s, Gronov .... 309

10 Gobioides, Laccp. . . .316

1 1 Trypauchen, Cuv. and Val. . 319

Family, XXVIII — Calliokymid.*.
1 Callionymus, Lmn. . . .321

Family, XXIX — Cepolid^.
1 Cepola, Linn 324

Family, XXX— Blennid^.

1 Blennins, Artedi . . . 325

326
328
335
336
336

2 Petroscb-tes, Riippell

3 Salarias, Cuv.

4 Andamia, Blyth .

5 Tripterygium, Risso

6 Xiphasia, Swainson

Family, XXXI — PiHyxchoboellid^.

1 Rhynchobdella, Bl. Schn. .

2 Mastacembelus, Ciw. and Val.

336
3j9

Family, XXXII — SPHYRiENiD^.
1 SphyrEEna, Artedi . . . 342

Family, XXXIII — Athekinid.e.

1 Atherina, Artedi . . . 344

Family, XXXIV — Mdgilid^.
I Mugi], Artedi ....

346

Family, XXXV.— AcLOSTOMATtm^.
1 Fislularia, Linn. . . . 360

Family, XXXVI — Centriscid.e.
1 Amphisile, Cuv. . . .361

Family, XXXVII — Ophiocephalid^.

1 Opbiocephehis, Bloch . . 363

2 Channa, Gronov. . . . 368

Family, XXXVIII — Labykintiiici.

1 Anabas, Cuv 369

2 Polyacanthus, CiM). and Fa!. . 371

3 OspbromenQ.s, Lacep. . . . 371

4 Trichogaster, Bl. Schn. . 373

Family, XXXIX — Tkachypterid.e.
1 Regalecus, Briinn. . . .376

Family, XL — Glyphidodontid.e.

1 Ampbiprion, Bl. Schn. . . 377

2 Premnas, Cav. .... 380

3 Teiradracbmum, Cantor . . 3>o

4 Pomacentrus, Cuv. . . .381

5 Glypbidodon, Cuv. . . , 334

6 Ileliastes, Cuv. and Val. . . 388

Family, XLI — Labkidjj.

1 Chairops, Riipp. .

2 Cossyphus, Omi. and Val.

3 Labrciides, Bleeker

4 Cheilinus, Cvai. .

5 Epibulus, Cuv.

6 Auampses, Cuv. .

7 Hemigymuus, Gunther

8 Stethojulis, Gilntlier .

9 Platyglossus, Giinther

10 Novacula, Cuv. and Val.

11 Juli.s, Cuv. and Val.

12 Gomphosus, Laoip.

13 Cheilio, Lacep.

14 Coris, Lacep.

15 Cymolutes, Giinther

16 Pseudodax, Blocker

17 Scarichthys, iJiee/i-er .

18 Callyodon, Cuv. and Val.

19 Pseudoscarus, Bleeker

Family, XLII— Chromides.

1 Etroplus, Cuv. and Val.

391
391
392
393
394
395
395
396
397
401
403
405
406
407
408
409
409
410
410

414

ORDER, n— ANACANTHINI.

Family, I — Gadid^.

1. Bregmaceros, Thompson . .417

Family, II — Ophidiid^.

1 Brotula, Cavier . . . .419

2 Ammodytes, Artedi . . . 419

Family, III. — Plecbonectidj;.

1 Psettodes, Bennett . . .421

2 Citharichtbys, Bleeker . . . 422

3 PseudorhoBibus, Bleeker . . 422

4 Platophrys, Stuainson . . . 425

5 Solea, Klein .... 425

6 Acbirns, Cv-v. .... 427

7 Synaptura, Cuvier . . . 428

8 Plagusia, Cuv 431

9 Cyiioglossus, Bam.-Buch. . . 431

ORDER, III— PHYSOSTOMI.
Family, I — Silurice.

1 Macrones, Bum. . . . 442

2 Leiocassis, Bleeker . . .451

3 Erethistes, Miill. and Trosch. . 452

4 Rita, Bleeker .... 454

5 Arius. Cuv. amd Val. . . . 456

6 -Batracbocephalus, Bleeker . . 408

7 Kelengus, Bleeker . . . 468

8 Osteogeniosus, Bleeker . .469

9 Pangasius, Cuv. and Val. . . 469

10 Pseudeutropius, Bleeker . . 470

11 Olyra, McClell. . . .474

12 Callicbrous, Ham.-Buch. . . 475

13 Wallago, Bleeker . . . 479

14 Silurus, .lirtecii .... 480

15 Chaca. Cuv. and Val. . . .481

16 Plutosus, Lacep. .... 482

17 Clarias, G-fonov 483

18 Saccobraiichus, Cwo. and Val. . 486

19 bihiudia, Cuv. and Val. . . 487

20 Ailia, Gray 488

21 Ailichtbys, Day .... 489

22 Eutroijiichthys. Bleeker . . 489

23 Aniblyceps, Blyth . . . 490

24 Sisur, Hain.-Bu,ch. . . .491

25 Gaguta, Bleeker .... 492

26 Bagiirius, Bleeker . . . 495

27 Glypiosternum, McClell. . 496

28 Euglyptosternuin, Bleeker . . 499

29 Rseudeclieneis. Blyth . . 500

30 E.xostoma, Blyth . . . .501

Family, II — Scopelid.e.

1 Saurus, Cuv 503

2 Saurida, Cuv 504

3 Harpodon, iesuew . . . 505

4 Scopelus, Cuvier .... 506

Family, — Salmonid.*;.

1 Salmo (introduced) . . . 508

Family, III-

1 Belone, Cuv.

2 Hemiraniphus, Cuv.

3 Exocietus, Artedi

■ScOMBRESOCIDyE.

.509

512
518

Family, IV — Cyprinodontid.e.

1 Cyprinodon, Lac^p. . . .521

2 Haplocbilus, McClell. . .521

Family, V — Cyprinid^e.
Scb-family, I— Cyprixina.

1 Homaloptera, v. Hass

2 Psilorhynchns, IfcCTell.

3 Discognathus, Heckel .

4 Oreinus, McClell.

5 Schizopygopsis, Steind.

6 Scbizothorax, Heckel

7 Ptycobarbus, Steind.

8 Diptychus, Steind.

9 Labeo, Cuv.

10 Osteochilns, Giintlier

11 Dangila, Cuv. and Val.

12 Cirrliina, Cuv. and Val.

13 Semi|iIotiis, Bleeker

14 Scapbiodon, Heckel

15 Carassius, Nihson (? introduced)

16 Catla, Cuv. and Val. .

17 Thynnichthys, Bleeker

18 Amblypbaryugodon, Bleeker

19 Barbus, Cuv. and Val.

20 Nuriii, Cuv. and Val. .

21 Rasbora, Bleeker

22 Aspidoparia, Bleeker .

23 Robtoe, Sykes

24 Barilius, Ham.-Buch. .

25 Danio. Ham.-Buch.

26 Perilampus, McClell. .

27 Chela, Ham.-Buch. ,

.525
526
527
529
531
531
5.33
534
534
545
546
.547
549
550
552
553
554
554
556
582
583
585
586
588
594
598
599

Sub-family, II— Cobitidixa.

1 Botia, Gray ....

2 Acantbopsis. v. Hass .

3 Somileptes, Bleeker} .

4 Lepidocepbalicbtbys, Bleeker

5 Acantbopbtbalmns, v. Boss.

6 Ap'ia, Blyth ....

7 Jerdonia, Day ....

8 Nemacheilichthys, Day

9 Nemacheilus, v. Hass .

F.iMiLY, VI — Clupeid.e.

1 Engraulis, Cuv. ....

2 Coilia, Gray

3 Chatoessus, Cuv. and Val. .

4 Glupea, Artedi

6 Corica, Ham.-Buch.

5 Pellona. Cuv. and Val.

7 Opisthopterus, Gill.

8 Raconda, Gray .

9 Dussumieria, Cuv. ami Val.

10 Spratclloides, Bleeker .

11 Albubi, Gronov.

12 Elops, Linn.

13 Megaiops, Comm.

14 Cbanos, Lacip. .

606
608
60S
609
610
611
611
611
612

624
630
632
634
642
642
646
646
"617
6 48
64S
649
6M>
6jl

XX

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

Family, VII— C'uiROCENTEiD.a;.
1 Chirocentrus, Guv.

Family, VIII — N0TOPTERID4:.
1 Notopterus, Lacip-

Family, IX — SYMBEANCHiD^a;.

1 Ani]ihipnous, Milll.

2 Monopterus, Laa'p.

3 Symbranchus, Bloch .

Family, X — MnRiENiD^a;.

1 Angiiilla, Cuv.

2 Congromurana, Kawp.

3 UrocoDger, Kaup.

4 Mursenesox, ilcClell. .

5 Saurenchelys, Peters .

6 Murenichthys, Bleeker

7 Ophichthys. Ahl.

8 Moringua, Gray

6 Mura:na, Artedi .
10 Gymnomuraena, Lacep.

652

653

655
656
657

659
660
661
661
663
663
663
666
667
674

PAGE

ORDER, V-PLECTOGNATHI.

ORDER, IV— LOPHOBRANCHII.
Family, I — Syngnathid,e.

1 Syngnathus, Artedi

677

2 Ichthyocampus, Kawp.

679

3 Doryichthys, Kaup.

679

4 Nerophis, Rafrn.

680

5 Gastrotokeus, Kaup. .

681

6 Acentronura, Kaup. .

681

7 Hippocampus, Leach .

681

Family, I— Sclerodekmi.

1 Tri acanthus, Cuv.

2 Balistes, Artedi .

3 Monacanthus, Oiw.

4 Anacanthas, Gray

5 Ostracion, Artedi

Family, II— Gymnodontks.

1 Trioilon, Cuv

2 Xenopterus, Duvi.

3 Tetrodon, Linn.

4 Diodon, Cuv. . . . ■

684
666
69i!
694
695

698
699
699
708

Sub-class, II— Chondropterygii.
ORDER, I— PLAGIOSTOMATA.

SUB-ORDEB, I — SeLACUOIDEI.

Family, I — CARCHARiiDiE.

1 Carchai-ias, Miill. amd Eenle

2 Hemigaleus, Bleeker .

3 Galeocerdo, Mull, and Henle

4 Zygaina, Cuv.

5 Trioenodon, MUll. and Eenle

6 Mustelus, Cuv. .

710
717
718
719
720
720

Family, II— Lamnid^.

1 Lamna, Cuv 722

Family, in — Kotidanid^.
1 Notidanus, Cuv 723

Family, IV-
1 Scyllium, Cuv.

■SCYLLIID^.

. 724

2 Ginglymostoma, Miill, and Henle 725

3 Stegostoma, MiiU. and Eenle . 725

4 ChUoscyllium, ifxiZl. and Hemie . 726

Sub-order, II — Batoidei.

Family, I — Pristid^.

1 Pristis, Latham .... 728

Family, II — RHiNOBATiDiE.

1 Rhynchobatiis, Miill. and Eenle . 730

2 Rhinobatus, Bl. Sclm. . 731

F.AMILY, III— TOEPEDINIoa;.

1 Narcine, Eenle .... 733

2 Astrape, Miill. and Eenle . . 733

Family, IV— Rajid.s;.

1 Platyrhina, MiJ.ll. and Eenle . 735

Family, V — TEYGONiOiE.

1 Urogymnus, Miill. and Eenle . 736

2 Trygon, Adanson . . . 736

3 Taeninra, Miill. and Eenle . . 740

4 Pteroplatea, Miill. and Eenle . 741

Family, VI — ^Myliobatid.*:.

1 Myliobatis, Cuvier . . . 742

2 .Stobatis, Miill. and Eenle . . "43

3 Rhinoptcra, Kuhl. . . . 743

4 Dicerobatis, Blainv. . . . 744

5 Ceratoptera, Miill. and Benle . 745

THE FISHES OF INDIA.

CLASS PISCES.

Vertebrate animals which are, as a rule, exclusively adapted for an aquatic life, and have their
extremities modified into fins. Respiring, almost invariably, solely by means of gills :* possessing a heart
vsrith only two cavities, and being cold-blooded. They are scaleless, partially or wholly scaled, the scales being
sometimes in the form of osseous plates.

SYNOPSIS OP SUB-CLASSES.

I. Teleostei or Eleutherobranchii. Skeleton osseous. Brain distinct. Skull possessing cranial bones.
Vertebrae completely separated, and the posterior extremity of the vertebral column bony, or having bony plates.
Branchiffi free, and the water discharged thi-ougb a single aperture on either side, protected by a bony gill-cover
or opercle : branchiostegal rays present. A non-contractile bulbus arteriosus, having a pair of valves at its
commencement.

II. Chondeopteetgii or ELASMOBEiscHii. Skeleton cartilaginous. Brain distinct. Skull vnthout
cranial sutures. Gills pouch-like, and attached by their outer edge to the skin, whilst an intervening gill-opening
exists between each. No gill-cover. Bulbus arteriosus contractile, and having thi-ee rows of valves at its com-
mencement.

SYNOPSIS OP ORDERS AMONGST THE TELEOSTEI.

I. AcANTHOPTERYGll. A portion of the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins unarticulated, forming spines. f Air-
vessel, when present, comjjletely closed, not possessing a pneumatic duct.

II. Anacanthini. All the rays of the vertical and ventral fins articulated ; the latter, when present, beiag
jugular and thoracic.

III. Phtsostomi. All the fin rays articulated, with the exception of the first in the dorsal and pectoral
which sometimes are more or less ossified. Ventral fins, when present, abdominal and spineless. Air-vessel, if
existing, having a pneumatic duct (except in Sconihresocidw).

rV. Loi'HOBR.AxcHii. Fishes possessing a dennal segmental skeleton, with the opercular pieces reduced
to a single plate. Gill-openings small. GiUs consisting of small rounded tufts, attached to the bi-anchial arches.
Muscular system very slightly developed. Snout produced : mouth terminal, but small. Teeth absent. Air-
vessel stated to be destitute of a pneumatic duct.

V. Plectognathi. Fishes with the bones of the head completely ossified, whilst those in the remainder
of the body are incompletely so : vertebras few. Gill-openings small, situated in front of the pectoral fins. Gdls
pectinate. Head generally large. Mouth narrow : the bones of the upper jaw mostly united, sometimes produced
into the form of a beak. Teeth in the jaws absent or present. There may be a single soft-rayed dorsal fin,
belonging to the caudal portion of the vertebral column, and situated opposite the anal : in some a rudimental
spinous dorsal is also present : ventrals when existing, have the form of spines. Skin either smooth, with rough
scales, or ossified in the form of plates or spines. Air-vessel destitute of a pneumatic duct.

Geographical distribution. The Acanthopterygian Fishes do not exist in any numbers in the inland
fresh- waters of India, being mostly confined to either within, or but a short distance removed from tidal

• Certain fish as the Lahyrinthici and OpMocephalidce can lire in water even with a bandage fastened ronnd their gills, entirely
preventing their use for respiratory purposes, provided they can obtain direct access to atmospheric air. Such a proceeding would however
be fatal to the majority of fishes, thus showing that some ibrms possess means of depurating their blood which are not present to all.

t There are some genera in which the fins can hardly be said to possess any true spines as amongst the Trachinidm, Aulostoma-
tid<B, Trachinidai, &c.

B

2 TELEOSTEI.

influence, or above tlie sea level. The larger the river, the gi-eater is the probability of their extending their
range up it. The hard rayed fishes captured in the fresh waters, mostly belong to one of the following genera.
Lates, Ambassis, Nandiis, Badis, Pristolepis, Scicena, Equula, Gobius and allied genera, Mtujil, members of the
Lahyri/nthiforrii and Oj^ihiocephaloid families, as well as the spined eels, and the Etrojjli.

SYNOPSIS OF FAMILIES AMONGST THE ACANTHOPTERYGIL*

First Group — Perciformes.

Body elevated or oblong, not elongate. No superbranchial organ. Spinous dorsal well developed, the
soft dorsal similar to the soft anal : ventrals thoracic, 1/4 or 1/5. t Vent remote from the end of the tail, and
posterior to the ventral fins. No prominent anal papilla.

1. I'crcube. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Neither molars nor cutting teeth. Vertical
fins generally scaleless. Lateral line almost invariably present and uninterrupted. J

2. Squamijnnries. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Body mostly elevated and compressed.
Neither molars nor cutting teeth, setiform ones may exist in the jaws, or vUliform ones on the palate. Vertical
fins scaled. Lateral line uninterrupted.

3. Mullidm. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Teeth feeble, jaws and palate variously armed
or edentulous. Two long and stiff barbels below the chin.

4. Nandidce. Preopercle not articulated with the oi'bit. Teeth feeble, but dentition more or less
complete. Lateral line interrupted or absent.

5. Sparida. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Either rows of cutting or conical teeth in tlie
front of the jaws, or a lateral row of molars, or both conjoined.

6. Virrhltidee. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Neither cutting nor molar teeth. Lower
pectoral rays unbranched.

7. Scorjjcenidce. Preopercle articulated with the orbit. Some of the bones of the head armed.

8. Teuthididce. Each ventral fin having two spines and three intermediate soft rays.

Second group — Beryciformes.

Body oblong or elevated. Head vrith large, subcutaneous, muciferous cavities. Ventral fins thoracic,
each with a spine, and less or more than five soft rays. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to
the ventral fins.

9. Benjcidce as defined for the group.

Third group — Kurtiformes.

Body strongly compressed. A single dorsal fin, much less developed than the anal. Vent remote from
the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral fins.

10. KuHidce as defined for the group.

Fourth group — Polynemiformes.

Mouth on the lower side of a prominent snout : muciferous system on the head well developed. Two
rather short dorsal fins : several free and articulated filaments below each pectoral. Scales more or less
covering the vertical fins. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral fins.

11. I'uhjnemidm as defined for the gi'oup.

Fifth group — Sciseni formes.

Muciferous system on the head well developed. The second dorsal fin much more developed than the
first, or the anal : no pectoral filaments. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral
fins.

12. Scimnidce as defined for the group.

Sixth group— Xiphiiformes.
The upper jaw produced into a long, sword-like process. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and
posterior to the ventral fins.

13. XipJdidcB as defined for the group.

* This synopsis of the Families of Acanthopterj'gian fishes existing in India, is talien, with as slight alterations as possible, from
the elaborate one in the British Museum Catalogue of Fish, Vol. iii, Appendix. By adhering to this, it has been considered, that
reference to the specimens in the national collection would be fixcilitatcd.

f There are exceptions; thus in some genera amongst the Scorpoemdos, the rays are rudimentary, and in Teuthidida the ventral
fin has 2/3.

t For exceptions, see Gcnns Amlassis, also Poey has recorded from Cuba a Genus nearly allied to Lidia7uis, but which,
amongst other things, is distinguished by having an interrupted lateral line.

FAMILIES OF ACANTHOPTERTGII. 3

Seventh group — Trichiuriformes.

Body band-like and compressed. Cleft of mouth deep. Teeth in jaws and palate, several being strong
and conical. Dorsal and anal fins many rayed : ventrals, when present, in the form of a pair of scales :
caudal absent or forked. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral fins when such
are present.

1-1. TncJduridce, as defined for the group.

Eighth group— Cotto-scombriformes.

Dorsal fins placed close together or continuous, having fewer spines than rays, or the spinous portion
may be modified into tentacles, detached spines, or a suctorial disk : anal similar to the soft dorsal, sometimes
both fins are modified posteriorly into finlets: ventrals, when present, jugular or thoracic, never forming a
sucker. No prominent anal papilla. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral fins,
when such are present.

1.5. AcanthuridcB. A single dorsal fin with less spines than rays. One or more bony spines on either
side of the tail in the adult.

16. Carangidce. Preopercle not articulated witli the orbit. Body oblong, elevated, or subcylindrical
and compressed. Teeth, when present, villiform or conical. Spinous portion of the dorsal fin sometimes rudi-
mentary : the jjosterior rays of the dorsal and anal, may consist of detached finlets : ventrals, when present,
thoracic. Vertebra 10/14 (Naucmtes 10/16).

17. Stromateidce. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Body oblong, and compressed. Barbed
teeth extend into the oesophagus. One long dorsal fin without any distinct spinous portion. VertebriB exceed
10/14.

18., Corypluenidcc. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Body oblong or elevated, and compressed.
No teeth in the oesophagus. One long dorsal fin without any distinct spinous portion. Vertebrfs exceed 10/14.

19. Nomeidce. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Body oblong, more or less compressed. Two
dorsal fins, the spinous sometimes continuous witli the soft portion, finlets occasionally present : anal spines
mostly indistinct : caudal forked. Scales cycloid, of moderate or small size. Vertebrse exceed 10/14.

20. Sconibridce. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Body oblong, or shghtly elongated and
compressed. Two dorsal fins, the first being sometimes modified into free spines, or an adhesive disk, whilst the
posterior dorsal and anal rays may l)e in the form of finlets. Scales, if present, small.

21. Trachinidce. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Body low and more or less elongated.
One or two dorsal fins. Vertebrae exceed 10/14.

22. Batrcwhidce. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Body low, and more or less elongated.
First dorsal fin consisting of a few free spines : ventrals jugular 1/2.

23. PediculaH. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. The spinous dorsal, when present, composed
of a few isolated spines which may be modified into tentacles : carpal bones forming a sort of arm for the
pectoral fin : ventrals, when present, jugular, having four or five rays.

24. CoUidce. Preopercle articulated with the orbit. Body more or less elongated. Some of the bones
of the head usually armed. Pectoral fins with, or without filamentous appendages : ventrals thoracic. Body
scaleless, scaled, or with a single row of plate-like scales.

25. Cataphracti . Preopercle articulated with the orbit. Head and body, more or less angular,
cuirassed with plates, or keeled scales covering the body.

Ninth group — Gobiiformes.

Spinous dorsal short and composed of flexible spines, the soft dorsal and anal being of equal extent :
ventrals when present, thoracic or jugular, having 15 or 1/4. A prominent anal papilla. Vent remote from
the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral fins when such are present.

26. Oohiidfe. Preojjercle not articulated with tlie orbit. Ventrals eitlier united so as to form a disk,
or else placed close together : anal spines may be absent.

27. CcdUonymid(B. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Two dorsal fins, the first with from four
to six flexible spines : ventrals wide apart.

Tenth group — Bleniiformes.
Body elongated and more or less cylindrical. Spinous portion of dorsal fin when distinct, may be as
fully or even more developed than the soft part : anal more or less elongated : ventrals, if present, thoracic
or jugular : caudal, when present, sometimes sub-truncated or rounded. Vent remote from the end of the
tail, and posterior to the ventral fins when such are present.

28. Blenniidce. Preopercle not articulated with the orbit. Ventral fins when present, jugular : anal
spines few, or absent. Often a prominent anal papilla.

29. BhynchohdellidrH. Body eel-like. Anterior portion of the dorsal fin consisting of numerous free
spines : ventrals absent. No prominent anal papUla.

4 TELEOSTEI.

Eleventh group — Mugilifonnes.

Two distinct dorsal fins, the anterior short, or similar to the posterior : ventrals well developed, abdo-
minal, 1/5. Vent remote from the end of the tail and posterior to the ventral fins.

30. Sphyrmiidix. Body elongate, sub-cylindrical. Teeth large and cutting. Vertebrae 24.

.31. Atherinidie. Body more or less elongated, and somewhat sub-cylindrical. Dentition feeble, or
moderate. Vertebrae usually exceeding 10/14.

32. Mugilkke. Body more or less elongated, and somewhat sub-cylindrical. Dentition feeble. First
dorsal fin consisting of four stiff spines. Vertebras 24.

Twelfth group — Gasterosteiformes.

The spinous dorsal, when present, short or formed of isolated spines : ventrals abdominal* sometimes
imperfectly developed. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to the ventral fins, when they are
present.

33. Aulostoinateidt.e. Anterior bones of the head forming a tube having a small mouth at its extremity.
Ventral fins with six rays.

34. Centriscidoi. Anterior bones of the head forming a tube having a small mouth at its extremity.
Two dorsal fins, the first short, the soft and the anal of moderate extent : ventrals imperfectly developed.

Thirteenth group — Channiformes.

Body elongate. No labyrinthiform superbranchial organ, but a bony prominence on the epitympanie
bone. Dorsal and anal fins long, all destitute of spines. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior
to the ventral fins, when such are present.

35. Ophiocephalidce. Ventral fins present, or absent.

Fourteenth group — Labyrinthibranchii.

Body compressed, oblong or elevated. A labyrinthiform superbranchial organ arising from the bran-
chial arches, and employed for respiratory purposes. Vent remote from the end of the tail, and posterior to
the ventral fins.

30. LabyrintMei. Dorsal and anal spines present, and often numerous.

Fifteenth group — Trachypterifonnes.

Body elongate and strongly compressed. Skeleton soft. Dentition feeble. Anal fin absent: caudal
not in the longitudinal axis of the fish, or else rudimentary : ventrals thoracic.

37. Trackijpteridce as defined for the group.

Sixteenth group — Labriformes.
Body oblong, elongated, or elevated and compressed. The lower pharjrageal bones coalesced along the
median line, and with or without a median longitudinal suture. A single dorsal fin, the number of spines
and rays being nearly equal : soft anal similar to the soft dorsal : ventrals 1/5, thoracic.

38. Fomacentridm. Bones of the head may be armed, or smooth. Scales ctenoid.

39. Labridce. Scales cycloid.

* Dr. Giinther oliserves that in the Aulostomateida " the ventrals have an ahdominal position in consequence of the prolongation
of the pubic bones, which are attached to the humeral arch." In the Centriscida, on the contrary, we find the " ventral fins truly
abdominal, imperfectly developed."

GENERA OP PERCro^.

Family, I— PERCID^.

Percoidei, pt, Sdcemidci, pt., et Mmnides, pt., Cuv. : Perddm, pt., Tlierapomd<y, pt., Hcemidonidce, pt,
Richardson: Percidce, pt., et Pmif^wwaiicZo;, pt, Giinther, Catal, and PeretVte, Fische d. Sudsee: Amhassoidei,
pt. Bleeker.

Branchiostegals from five to seven : pseudobranchise present. Form of body generally oblong, and not
elongated. Muciferous system of head rudimentary, or but slightly developed. Eyes lateral. No super-
branchial organ. Preopercle entire or serrated : cheeks not cuirassed. Mouth in front of snout, having a
lateral cleft, occasionally on the lower side : moderately or in some cases very protractile. Teeth in the jaws
villiform, with or without canines, present or absent on the vomer, and palatines. Anterior portion of the
dorsal fin spinous : ventrals thoracic, 1/5 or sometimes 1/4. Scales ctenoid or cycloid. Lateral line when
present continuous, (except in some species of Ambassis.) Air-vessel usually present and more or less simple.
Pyloric appendages in varying numbers.

SYNOPSIS OF INDIAN GENERA.

First group — Percina.
Form of body oblong. Opercles strongly denticulated or armed. Cleft of mouth rather oblique. Two
dorsal fins : three anal spines. Scales of moderate size, usually ctenoid. Pyloric appendages few.

1. Lates. Branchiostegals seven. Preorbital and opercle serrated, the latter denticulated at its angle.
VUliform teeth on jaws, vomer, and palate.

Second group— Serranina.
Form of body oblong, sometimes elevated. Opercles serrated or armed. Cleft of mouth rather oblique.
One, or more rarely two dorsal fins.

2. Gmmileptes. Branchiostegals seven. Opercles aiTned. Fine teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate, without
canines. A single elevated dorsal fin : three anal spines. Scales small, cycloid.

3. Serranus. Branchiostegals seven. Opercles armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate :
canines present. A single dorsal fin : three anal spines. Scales small, cycloid or ctenoid.

4. Variola. Branchiostegals seven. Opercles armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate :
canines present : lateral conical teeth in lower jaw. A single dorsal fin : three anal spines : caudal deeply
forked. Scales small, ctenoid.

5. Antldas. Branchiostegals seven. Opercles armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate :
canines present. A single dorsal fin : three anal spines : caudal deeply forked. Scales of moderate size.

6. G-rammistes. Branchiostegals seven. Opercle spinate. VilUform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate.
Two dorsal fins : no anal spines. Scales minute.

7. Diploprion. Branchiostegals seven. Opercle spinate : preopercle with a double denticulated limb.
Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate. Two dorsal fins : anal with two spines. Scales small, adherent. _

8. Lutianus. Branchiostegals seven. Opercle scarcely spinate : preopercle serrated, and its vertical
border may be notched to receive an interopercular spinate knob, which is sometimes present. Villiform teeth
in jaws, vomer, and palate, generally canines in both jaws, and an outer row of conical lateral ones. A single
dorsal fin : anal with three spines. Caudal more or less emarginate. Ctenoid scales of moderate or smaU size.

Third group— Priacanthina.
Lower jaw prominent. Cleft of mouth almost vertical. Scales ctenoid, small. Caecal pylori few.

9. Priacanthus as defined in group.

Fourth group — Apogonina.
Form of body more or less elevated and compressed. Opercles mostly denticulated or armed. Cleft of
mouth oblique or even nearly vertical. One or two dorsal fins.

10. Ambassis. Branchiostegals six. Horizontal limb of preopercle with a double serrated border :
opercle without a prominent spine. VUliform teeth on the jaws and palate. A recumbent spine anterior to
the first dorsal fin : three anal spines. Scales of moderate or small size, deciduous.

11. Apogoti. Branchiostegals seven. Preopercle with a double border: serrated or entire. Opercle
spinate. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate. Two anal spines. Scales large, deciduous.

12. Cheilodipterus. Branchiostegals seven. Preopercle with an inner ridge, and sometimes with a
double serrature : opercle not spinate. Canines, also villiform teeth in the jaws and palatines. Two anal spines.
Scales large, deciduous.

Fifth group— Grystina.

Body oblong or elevated. Opercles entire, or variously serrated. Cleft of mouth more or less oblique.
One or two dorsal fins.

6 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

13. Dides. Brancliiostegals six. Pi-eopercle serrated : opcrcle spinate. Villiform tcetli in jawi3, vniner,
and palate. A single dorsal fin, deeply notched between tke ninth and tenth spines : three anal spines. Scales
ctenoid and of moderate size.

Sixth group — Theraponina.

Branchiostegals six. Opercle spinate : preopercle serrated. Cleft of mouth somewhat oblique. Dorsal
fin single, but more or less notched : three anal spines. Air-vessel divided by a constriction into an anterior
and posterior portion.

14. Tlierapon. Teeth villifomi in jaws, deciduous on vomer and palate.

1.5. Datnin. Teeth villiform in jaws, palate edentulous. Snout rather produced.

16. Helotes. Palate edentulous, teeth in the outer row in the jaws having a small lobe on either side.

Seventh group — Pristipomatina.

Branchiostegals from five to seven. Preopercle serrated or entire. Mouth moderately protractile.
Teeth in the jaws. Three anal spines. Air-vessel destitute of any constriction.

17. Pristipoma. Branchiostegals seven. Opercle with indistinct points: preopercle serrated. Cleft
of mouth horizontal : a median groove along the under surface of the lower jaw. Dorsal fin single, but often
with a deep cleft between the last two spines.

18. napnlorjcvi/s. Branchiostegals six or seven. Preopercle serrated : opercle with short points :
barbel-like papUlce on the mandible. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palate, with an outer enlarged row in
the former. Spinous dorsal low, and deeply cleft : anal with three spines. Pins covered with fine scales.

19. Dkujramma. Branchiostegals six or seven. Preopercle serrated. Mouth small : lips thick : pores
on the under surface of the lower jaw, but no median groove. A single dorsal fin.

20. Lohotes. Branchiostegals six. Upper pirofile of the head concave. Preopercle serrated. Lower
jaw the longer. A single dorsal fin.

21. Scohjmdes. Branchiostegals five. Preopercle serrated. A backwardly-directed spine on the
infraorbital ring of bones : opercle with a weak spine. A single dorsal fin.

22. Dentex. Branchiostegals six. Preorbital high. Preopercle entire. Generally strong canines.
More than three rows of scales on the preopercle. A single dorsal fin. Air-vessel notched posteriorly.

23. Synagris. Branchiostegals six. Preorbital high. Preopercle serrated, or entire. Canines, not
very strong, at least in the upper jaw. Three rows of scales on the preopercle. A single dorsal fin.

24. Pentapus. Branchiostegals six. Preorbital low. Preopercle entire. Generally strong canines.
Three or more rows of scales on preopercle. A single dorsal fin.

25. Smaris. Branchiostegals six. Preopercle entire. Vomer edentulous. Mouth protractile. A single
dorsal fin.

26. Odontonectes. Branchiostegals six. Preopercle serrated. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and
palatines. A single dorsal fin.

27. Cce-sio. Branchiostegals six or seven. Preopercle entire or finely serrated. Palate edentulous.
A single dorsal fin.

Eighth group— Gerrina.

Branchiostegals six. Body elevated or oblong. Preopercle serrated or entire. Mouth very protractile.
Villiform teeth in the jaws. A single dorsal fin : three anal spines. Air-vessel simple.

28. Batnioidcs. Preopercle serrated : opercle with short spines. A deeply notched dorsal fin : caudal
rounded.

29. Gerres. Preopercle mostly entire. Inferior pharyngeal bones united by a suture. Dorsal fin with
a scaly sheath. Caudal forked.

Geor/raphical distribution. The Indian Peecid^ are almost entirely maiine fishes, if we are to judge
from the localities where they breed, and the places in which they are most abundant. It is by no means
uncommon to capture specimens of Lates long distances above tidal influence, but it is unusual to find any of the
genera Serramis, Lutianus, Therapo7i, Pristipoma, Jjobotes, Batnioides, or Gerres, many miles beyond the reach of
the tides. The remainder of the genera (excluding Amhassis) are almost entii-ely marine. Amongst this last
genus, which is considered by several excellent ichthyologists as forming a distinct family, some are confined to
salt water, but the majority are spread through the larger rivers and tanks of the plains.

The colours and tints in fishes vary in different waters, if for instance the latter is opaque or muddy, its
finny inhabitants will be found darker ; whilst, on the other hand, in clear water they are brighter, and generally
lighter.* Ago and season likewise exercise an influence in this respect. Thus the Lutianus marginatiis has a
black lateral blotch in the young which generally, but not uavariably, disappears in the adult ; the same is seen in
Chcetodon lunula, Etroplus Suratensis and many other, fishes. In some of the Serrani, and sometimes in

* Dr. Stark (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1833, p. 88 > observed that the effect of keeping living fish in fresh water contained in vessels of
different colours, created a tendency to their assninjng the colour of the vessel in which they were kept. In marine forms it has been
suggested that the depths of the ocean at which some reside may have an effect upon their colours.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 7

Pristipoma, Garanx, Osphromenus, &c., vertical bands are found, as a sign that tlie fisli is immatui'e. Lateral
longitudinal broad bands are frequently modified, two narrow ones taking the place of a single wider one, as seen
in Gheilodipterus, Diagramma, &c. Likewise in stuffed examples, or in those which have been long macerated in
spirit, marks which were distinct in the fresh specimen, become more or less obliterated. Irrespective of the
foregoing, the period intervening between capture and examination, has a considerable bearing upon their
fugitive colours, as well as whether they have been sodden in water, or kept dry by their caj^tors : for instance,
if a dark coloured fish is placed in a dry situation, and strips of moist cloth laid over it and kept wet, the portions
of the body which have not been allowed to dry will be foimd to be of a lighter tint than those not so treated,
and this banded appearance which can be so easily produced is indelible. It is by no means uncommon for the
caudal fin to be white in the young, but black in the adult as in Blarjramma nigrum.

The foregoing brief remarks on the colours of fishes will explain how it is that the descriptions in this
work do not always agree with those of other observers. Such discrepancies indeed often merely mean, that
the colours of the same species of fish may differ in different districts.

First group — Percina.

Form of body oblong. Opercles strongly denticulated or armed. Cleft of mouth rather oblique. Two
dorsal fins : three anal spines. Scales of moderate size. Pyloric appendages few.

Genus, 1 — Lates, Ciiv. and Val.

Brcmchiostegals seven : pseudohramchim. Body oblong and somewhat compressed. Preorhital, and sJioulder
hone serrated : preopercle toith strong spines at its angle, and denticulated along its horizontal limb : opercle spinate.
Teeth viUiform on jaivs, vomer, and palatine bones, tongue smooth. Two dorsal fins united at their bases, the first
with seven or eight spines, the anal with three : caudal rounded. Scales finely ctenoid, and of moderate size. Ccecal
pylori few.

Geographical distribution. Mouths of the Nile : fi-om the coasts of Sind throughout the seas of India to
the Malay Archipelago, China, and Australia.

Uses. Besides being in most places excellent as food, their air-vessels or sounds are di-ied, and appear in
commerce as rough isinglass, much of which is exported from India to China, and some to Europe. Cantor
observes that this fish " yields isinglass in the Straits, but little is collected, partly on account of the comparative
scarcity of the fish, and partly owing to the thinness of the air-vessel. That of a large sized fish when di-ied
weighs uj)wards of one ounce."

SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.*

1. Lates calearifer D 7— S/xx-Taj ^- 8-o> ^- 1- ^^- Colour greyish. Seas of India, China, and Australia.

1. Lates calearifer, Plate I, fig. 1.

Holocenirus calearifer, Bloch, t. 244.

Perca calcar, Bl. Schn. p. 89.

Perca pandoomenoo, Russell, Fish. Vizag., ii, p. 23, f. 131.

Holocentrus heptadactylus, Lacep. iv, pp. 3-14, 391.

Goius vacti, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 86, 369, pi. 16, f. 28.

Lates nohilis, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 96, f. 13; Richardson, Ich. China, p. 222; Bleeker, Perc. p. 27; Cantor,
Catal. Mai. Fish. p. 1 ; Hageman, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. 18-51, p. 348.

Lates calearifer, Giii^ther, Catal. Fish, i, p. 68 & P.Z.S. 1870, p. 824; Day, Fishes of Malabar, p. 2.

Plectropoma calearifer, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xlv, fig. 3.

Dangara, Sind. ; Nnddee-meen or Nair-meen, Mai. ; Paiimee-meen or Koduwa, Tarn. ; Pandu hopah or
Pandu menu, Tel.; Durruah and Beklcut, Ooriah ; Begti, Beng. ; Nga-tha-dyk, Arrac ; Korul, or if large Baor,
Chittagong ; Todah, Andam. ; Goclc-up of Europeans.

B. vii, D. 7— 8/„1tt, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. t,%, C. 17, L. 1. 52—60, L. tr. 6—7/13, Cajc. pyl. 3.

Length of head fi-om 3/11 to 1/4, of caudal 1/5 to 1/6, height of body 3/10 to 3/11 of the total length.
Eyes — diameter 1/5 to 1/6 of the length of the head, from 1 to 1\ diameters from end of snout, and 3/4 of a dia-
meter apart. In the immature the eye is comijaratively larger. The maxilla extends to below the posterior
edge of the orbit. Preorbital and preopercle finely serrated, the latter with an obtuse angle, having a large tooth
directed backwards, and three smaller but strong denticulations along its lower edge : opercular spine weak.
Shoulder bone serrated. Teeth — viUiform on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Fins — dorsal spines strong, the third
the highest, equalling about the length of the post-orbital portion of the head, from it they decrease : third anal
spine longest and strongest, their proportionate lengths varying according to age, thus at foui- inches long the

* Althongh only one species of this Genus has been rlescribed from India, it will be necessary here to indicate the mode which
will be pursued in this work as to the position of each individual in Genera which possess more than one. An excellent method is to
begin with that form which is most typical : a second plan is to commence with those having the greatest affinity to the preceding Genus
and finish with those closely allied to the following one, in which case the most ty]3ical forms are in the middle: the third and least scien-
tific is what I propose adopting in order to facilitate reference, it is to place first those possessing the largest number of spines, rays and
scales, and continuing this plan throughout the Genus. Colour will not be adopted for reasons advanced under the next Genus.
(See page 9.)

8 ACAI^THOPTERTGII.

second spine is 3/-4 as lon[T as the tliird, but at 20 inclies it is not above 1/4 so long: pectoral shorter than
ventral, and rounded : caudal fan-shaped. Air vessel — thin, but furnishes a good isinglass. Colours — grey, with
a dash of green along the back, and silvery on the abdomen : during the monsoon time it has a tinge of purple.
The immatm-e are usually darker than the adults.

Having examined Bloch's typical specimen stiU at Berlin, I find that it has as he states D. 7/J„.

Deformities in this fish are by no means rare. In one case the last few dorsal rays were deflected to the
left side of the free portion of the tail, and had there become continuous at their bases with the anal spines,
which were likewise inserted along the same portion of the fish, whilst the anal rays were in their natm-al position.

It is very remarkable how in fishes which have died and stiffened with their mouths open, and the opercles
and branchial rays distended, the appearance of the head becomes much changed, whilst it is difiicult, or impos-
sible to subsequently bring them back to their normal shape. Thus the profile of the head becomes more
horizontal, whilst the posterior extremity of the maxilla does not reach so far back as when the mouth had been
natui-ally closed.

Hahitat. — Seas, backwaters, and mouths of tidal rivers in the East, up which last it often ascends long
distances to prey upon its weaker neighbours. It is excellent eating when from the vicinity of large rivers. It
salts well, and from it some of the best ' Tamarind-fish' is prepared.*

Second group — SerraDina.t
Form of body oblong, sometimes elevated. Opercles serrated or armed. Cleft of mouth rather oblique,
One, or more rarely two, dorsal fins.

Genus, 2 — Ceomileptes, Swains.

SerranicJdJiys, Bleeker : Lioperca, GUI.

BrancMostegals seven : pse%ulohranckue. Body ohlong, comfressed. Eyes lateral, of moderate size. Preopercle
iinth its vertical limb finely serrated, its Iwrizontal one entire. Opierele tvith two or three spines. Teeth fine in the
jaivs, vomer, and palate, no canines : internal row in maxilla not fixed. Dorsal fin elevated, having ten or eleven
spines, anal ivith three : caudal rounded. Scales small, cycloid.

SYNOPSIS OP INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.
1. Cromileptes altwelis, D. f|:ii, A. i^.Vo' L. r.yf. Upper profile of head concave. Covered with
widely separated, black, white-edged spots. Seas of India to China and beyond.

The above fish apparently belongs to the group Percina and may be a Lates. It is from a figure amoriget the beautiful
.collection of coloured drawings made on the Coromandel coast of India by n.itive artists, under the immediate supervision of Sir Walter
Elliot, K.S.I, of the Madras Civil Service, who has most liberally placed the whole of them at my disposal for the puqiose of this work.
I have had it engraved in order to direct the attention of inquirers in India to it.

t Bleeker iRevis. des cspcc. Iiul-Arch. dn groupe iles Epinephclini, 1873) divides the Epinephelini (Serranini, pt.) as follows:—
I. Dorsal fin single or but slightly notched. Jaws and opercles scaled. Caudal fin with 15 divided rays.

A. Forehead, snout and suborbitals scaleless. Jaws with canines, which in the mandibles are both
anterior and lateral.

1. Paraserranus, 'R]kr. Mandible scaleless. Inner row of teeth immoveable. Preopercle with a spine directed backwards.
Dorsal with 10 spines; dorsal and anal scaleless. Scales of moderate size, ctenoid.

2. Vm-iola, Swaiiis.=Pseudoserranus, Klunz. Mandible scalelc.'is. Inner row of teeth moveable. Preopercle feebly serrated,
without any spine. Dorsal with 9 spines : dorsal and anal scaled. Scales very small, ctenoid.

3. Paracanthistius, G\n=Plectropoma, Gill (Cuv. and Val. ex. parte). Mandible scaled. Inner row of teeth moveable.
Preopercle with its lower edge denticulated, the denticulations directed anteriorly. Dorsal with from 6 to 13 spines: dorsal and anal fins
with scaly ba.ses. Scales very small, ctenoid in the immature.

B. Forehead and lower jaw scaled. Inner row of teeth in the jaws moveable : mandibles without lateral
canines. Dorsal and anal fins scaled. Scales small.

1. Epine2>helus, Rloch=CeiAiilcri)lwlis, Bl.Sclm.; Lahroperca,Mycieroperca,Bodiamts,Ennea^entrus,Febro'metopon,Promic'rops,
Schistoms, and Menephoms, Gill ; Prospiims, Poey; PriacanthicUhys, Day. Teeth on vomer, and palate : canines in the premaxillaries.
Dorsal with 9 to 11 spines. Scales ctenoid or cycloid.

2. Cromipeltes, Sw!ims.=Serranichtliys,B\kT. ; lAoperca, GUI. Teeth on vomer, and palate : no canines in the jaws. Dorsal
with 10 or 11 spines. Pro hie anteriorly concave. Scales cycloid.

3. Anyperodon, Qunthei=Cema,Bp.? Palate edenttdous : no canine* in the mandibles. Dorsal with 11 spines. Scales
ctenoid.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 9

1. Cromileptes altivelis, Plate I, fig. 2.

Seiranus altivelis, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 324, pi. 35; Richards. Ich. China, p. 230; Bleeker, Perc. p. 33;
Cantor, Catal. p. 10; Gunther, Catal. i, p. 152; Kner, Denks. Ak. Wiss. Wien. sxiv. t. i, f. 1.

Cromileptes altivelis, Swains. Fish, ii, p. 201 ; Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. 44, f . 3 & Epinephelini, p. 26.

B. vii, D. \i:\i, P. 18, V. 1/5, A. ^ l, C. 17, L. r. '^i^ifj', L. tr. 3G/-.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal about 1/5, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Eyes — diameter from
1/5 to 2/11 of the length of head, rather above 1 diameter from the end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart.
Upper profile of head concave. Mouth elongated and pointed, with the lower jaw much the longer. The
maxilla reaches to below the last third of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle serrated ; its lower limb, also sub-
and iuter-opercles entire. Opercular spines not well developed. Teeth — villiform in the jaws, the outer row in
the maxilla, and inner in mandibles rather larger than the rest. Fins — dorsal spines moderately strong, the last
beino- slightly longer than those preceding it, but only 2/3 or 3/4 as high as the highest dorsal ray; soft portions
of dorsal and anal fins angularly rounded, and much elevated : pectoral as long as the head : ventrals reach
the anus : second anal spine stronger than but not quite so long as the third : caudal fan-shaped. Scales — cycloid,
aljout 22 rows between the base of the sisth dorsal spine, and the lateral-line. Colours — head and body greyish
becominn- lio-hter on the abdomen : fins grey : everywhere covered with round, black, white-edged spots, those
on the body, dorsal, and caudal fins being the largest. Bleeker observes that the magnitude, and number of the
spots varies with the size of the specimen.

Hiihitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Arcliipelago and China. The specimen figured was taken at the
Nicobars by the late Dr. Stoliczka. It is about 9 inches in length. Cuv. and Val. type skin has only 10 spines
as in this case exists in my specimen.

Genus 3 — Sereanus,* Cuv.

EpinepJielus, sp. Bloch : CephalopJwlis, sp. Bl. Schn. : Paraserranus and SerranicJitJiys, Blkr. : Lahroi^erca,
Mijderoperca, Bodianus, Enneacentrus, Petrometopon, Promicrops, Schistorus, and Meneplwrus, GUI : Prospinus,
Poey : Priacanthiahthys,f Day.

BrancJdostegals seven : pseudohrancMm. Eyes lateral, of moderate size. Preojiercle tvith its vertical limb
more or less serrated, its horizontal one generally entire, opercle with two or three flat spines. Teeth villiform in the
iaws, vomer, and palate : canines present. Tongue smooth. Eorsal fin single, having from eight to twelve spines:
anal with three : caudal cut square, ohliquely, emarcjinate, or rounded. Scales small, ctenoid or cycloid. Pyloric
appendages many, in moderate numbers, orfeiv.

" Cavolini and Cuvier have, after repeated examinations, described the smooth Serranus (S. cahrilla), and
some other species of this genus as true hermaphrodites, one portion of each lobe of I'oe consisting of true ova,
the other part ha-ving all the appearance of a perfect milt, and both advancing to maturity simultaneously. A
structure of a different kind which must be considered as accidental, has been observed by others in the perch,
mackerel, carp, cod, whiting, and sole. Tliis occasional malformation, to speak in a popular phrase, consists of a
lobe of hard female roe on one side, and of soft male roe on the other side of the same fish. "J

The colour of these fishes, which varies so extensively ip the same species, can hardly be accepted as a
trustworthy guide for grouping. The form of the preopercle is not invariably identical in every specimen
of the same species, or even on the opposite sides of a fish : whilst a spine is occasionally present at its angle
in the immature, becoming more or less absorbed in the adult. The sub- and inter-opercles may be serrated or
smooth in the same species as observed in Serramis boenach. The fins also alter with age, owing to the spines
not increasing in length so rapidly as the rays, consequently they may be comparatively shorter in the adult
than in the young. Even the rays in the mature fish are found less in their proportionate height to the entire
lencrth of the specimen, than they are in the immatiire. The same thing occurs in respect to the anal spines,
the second is sometimes the longest in the immature but becomes shorter than the third in the mature, and this
appears to be most frequent when the second spine is the strongest, augmenting in thickness whilst the third
increases in length. Occasionally there is an excess of one spine and a deficiency of a ray in the dorsal fin, the
first of the rays having apparently taken on a spinous character, as is seen more distinctly in some of the
Spaeidj;. The nimibers of rows of scales is very important amongst these fishes, as so ably pointed out by
Bleeker, and many a mistake in identification would have been saved, had his plan been adopted, which is to
give the numbers of transverse rows going to the lateral-line from both above and below. As an example I
would point to the Serranus Sonnerati, so easily distinguished when this plan is followed, but apparently so
diflioult where it is not attended to.

Geographical distribution. — The seas of temperate and tropical regions. The members of this genus in
India may be considered as entirely marine, a few, it is true, ascend rivers not for breeding but predaceous
purposes, restricting their range, however, to within tidal influence.

* Fishes of this genus are termed CuUawah, Tarn.

f In the Proc. Zool. Soc. 1868, p. 193, I deseribed FriacanthiclitJajs Maderaspatensis as the type of a new gentis having a long
serrated spine at the angle of the preopercle, and also a serrated ventral one, D. |i, A. f, L. 1. 70, L. r. above lOU. Dark violet, with
two light blue longitudinal bands. Dr. Giinther suggests that it is the young of Serranus lati/asciatus, Temm. &. Schleg. which is by
no means improbable, my largest specimen having been under two inches in length.

% Yarrell, British Fishes, i, p. 11.

C

10 ACAiTTHOPTERTGII.

Uses. Good as food, but coarse wlien very large. Isinglass is obtained from tbeii- air-vessels, but the
amount is uot very great.

SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES.

1. Serranus Stdllcd-iv, D. ii, A. j^_-g, L. r. f|§, L. tr. 14/-10. Preopercle emarginate, and its vertical
border serrated. Caudal rounded. Reddish, with four vertical bands on the body : head and anterior half of
body spotted with red, or reddish yellow. Coasts of Sind and Aden.

2. (S'erra?Hts rtre«?of((«, D. yJ.Vs) -A., f, L. r. 105, L. tr. 19/47. Preopercle shghtly emarginate: vertical
limb serrated, having coarser teeth at its angle. Caudal emarginate. Reddish-brown, with hexagonal markings
over the head, body, and fins, which latter have dark margins edged with white. From Aden throughout the
seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

.3. Serranus Waandersi, D. if, A. -|-, L. r. i|-g, L. tr. 25/.56. Upper two thirds of body, dorsal fin, and
upper third of caudal covered with hexagonal or rounded blotches. Seas of India to the Malay Arcliipelago.

4. Serranus Uneatus, D. tt-ts' -^- ¥-¥' L. r. iff, L. tr. 28/48. Cfec. pyl. above 50. Preopercle with
several denticulations at the angle, rather well developed. Caudal rounded. Brown, with fom% five, or more
blue longitudinal bands. India and China, attaining at least four feet in length.

5. Serranus merra, D. li-Vrj A. -J, L. r. ff, L. tr. 16/32. Preopercle rounded, its vertical margin
serrated, most coarsely at its angle. Pectoral fin as long as the head : caudal rounded. Redilish-brown
everywhere covered with large brown spots.

6. Serranns hexagmiatus, D. yJ-TT> -A- f, L- i'- Wi L. tr. 13/16. Ca;c. pyl. 32. Preopercle with strongest
serrations at the angle. Caudal rormded. Brown, covered with large hexagonal, or rounded spots. Red Sea,
East coast of Africa, seas of India, Malay Archipelago to the Pacific.

7. Serranus macuhitus, D. ii, A. J, L. r. y^e^ J^ tr. 20/45. Preopercle rounded, vertical limb serrated,
and most coarsely at its rather produced angle. Second, and third dorsal sjiines as long as the post-oi-bital
portion of the head, and longer than the I'ays. Deep grey with round black spots on the head and some of the
fins, becoming oval in the anterior half of the body, and rather sinuous on its posterior half. Coromandel coast
of India, and the Andaman islands.

8. Serranus jlavo-cceruleus, D. T¥-rT» ^- !> ^- ^- Trf' ^- ^^- 22/. Serrations on preopercle weak, strongest
at its angle. Caudal slightly emarginate. Pui-plish-blue, tail and fins gamboge-yellow, ventral and anal with
black tips. From the East coast of Africa throughout the seas of India.

9. Serranus fasciatus, D. |J, A. f, L. r. If. Preopercle rather strongly serrated, most so at its angle.
Caudal rounded. Reddish or yellowisli with indistinct vertical bands : dorsal, and caudal fins may be black
edged. From the Red Sea, thi-ough those of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

10. Serranus tumilahris, I), ii, A. |, L. r. fl, L. tr. 21/. Preopercle sen-ated. Caudal rounded.
Greyish-olive, darkest along the back. Body, and head covered with irregnlarly-sized pearly-white spots, whilst
a black line exists on the maxilla. Fins dark gi'cy, externally nearly black; the margins of the pectoral,
ventral, soft dorsal, and caudal have a very narrow white border. The whole of the dorsal fin with white spots,
as on the body. East coast of Afi-ica, seas of India, and Burma, to the Malay Archipelago.

11. Serranus diacanflms, D. ii:i|, A. -5!^, L. r. VV". L. tr. 20/45. Ciec. pyl. 11. Preopercle with strong
teeth at its angle. Pinkish-brown on the back, rose coloured on the abdomen. Six vertical dark bands, the first
on the head. Fins with dark margins. Found throughout the seas of India to Java. Is very common in Sind,
and specimens reach 18 inches or more in length.

12. Serranus sexfasciatus, D. ii, A. f . Two spinate teeth at the angle of the preopercle. Brownish,
with six vertical bands, and some irregular spots on the body. Dorsal, caudal, and anal yellow with black spots.
Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

13. Serranus lanceolatus, D. xi-Vsi ^- t' L. r. Vo°, L. tr. 20/52. Cajcal pylori numerous, but very
short. When young it is gamboge yellow, with five blackish-blue cross bands. Fins yellow -with black bands,
and spots. As it becomes adult the bands become broken up into irregular mai'kings, and the yellow colour
disappears, except from the fins, in which the black becomes also broken up into black spots. East coast of
Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. Very numerous at Kun-achee : it attains a large size.

14. Serranus erijthrurus, D. ii, A. f . Preopercular border rounded, and finely serrated in its vertical
portion. Fins rounded. Head, and back greenish shot with red ; under sui-face of the body silveiy. Dorsal
greenish ; pectorals, ventrals, and anal yellowish ; tail, and free portion of caudal reddish. Specimen 8 inches
in length, but said to attain 4 feet. Malabar.

15. Serranus Malaharicus, D. ri-^r^ A. f, L. r. W> L. tr. 19/50. dec. pyl. 50-60. Vertical limb of
preopercle serrated, strongest at tlie angle. Fins rounded. Brownish, with about eight cross bands, the first
over the head, the second over the nape. Head, and body covered with large round yellow spots, that usually
become brown in dead specimens ; yeUow spots also on the dorsal fin, which sometimes coalesce and form bands.
East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Philippines. It attains a very large size.

16. Serranus corallicola, D. ri-^TJ A- h L. r. f|. Greyish-brown with black spots. Madras to the
Mi Jay Archipelago.

17. Serramis salmoides, D. ts.\^, A. f, L. r. ^-^, L. tr. 24/50. Vertical limb of preopercle serrated,
with three or four coarse teeth at the angle. Fins rounded. Brownish yellow : body, and fins entirely covered
with black, or yellow spots. From the Red Sea, through the seas of India, to the Malay Ai'chipelago.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 11

18. Serranus semipunctatus, D. W, A. f . The serrations on tlie preopercle are fine. Caudal rounded.
Body with six, or seven broad cross bands ; head, and fins only are spotted. Pondiclierrj', to 1 foot in length.

19. Serranus sunimana, D. -li-Ve, A. f. Canine teeth small. Preopercle serrated, with a shallow notch
above its angle. Second anal spine longest and strongest : caudal rounded. Brown, body, and vertical fins
covered with small, round, white dots. Scarcely any spots on the head : a black streak above the maxilla.
Red Sea, East coast of Africa, and Andaman Islands, where it is very common.

20. Serranus dermocMrus, D. W, A. f , appears to be a variety of the last species. Malabar.

21. Serranus morrhua, D. -^i-, A. f , L. r. J-fg-, L. tr. 21/46. Preopercle with three strong teeth at its
angle. Caudal rounded. Greenish-olive, becoming dull yellow on the abdomen ; several irregular bluish-white
bands radiate from the orbit, or exist on the head, whilst others are seen on the body. Red Sea, seas of India
to Japan.

22. Sermmis angularis, D. y^-Vei -^- fi Ca?c. pyl. 13-14. Three strong denticulations at the angle of
preopercle. Caudal lunate. Greyish, head and body, covered with large closely-set yellow spots. Fins spotted,
all, except the pectoral, with black white-edged margins. Andamans.

23. Serranus fusaoguitatus, D. ti-Vt) ^- f' L. r. ^^, L. tr. 22/.56. Canine teeth feeble in the upjier and
not apparent in the lower jaw. Vertical limb of preopercle rather strongly serrated, but more coarsely at its
ano-le : tliird anal spine longest, but not so strong as the second : caudal rounded. Greyish, with brown spots
of a larger or smaller size irregularly disposed. East coast of Africa : Andaman Islands.

24. Serranus grammicus, D. \^, A. f, L. r. -fgi, L. tr. 17/44. Preopercle serrated, more coarsely at its
angle. Caudal fin cut nearly square. Greyish, with three narrow black bands ; the superior passes from the
upper edge of the orbit to the last dorsal spine ; the second from the upper thii-d of the orbit over the superior
opercular spine to the base of the sixth dorsal ray ; and the third from the lower edge of the orbit to below the
middle opercular spine, and on to the upper third of the caudal fin, where it takes the form of rounded blotches.
Dorsal fin vrith a row of black spots along its centre, and edged with black ; anal, and caudal edged with black,
the latter with numerous black spots. Madras, to at least 16 inches in length.

25. Serranus boenacJc, D. t6?-j-8-) -^- s^-e^ ^- ^- 95, L. tr. 22/43. Preopercle most coarsely serrated at its
angle. Caudal rounded. Yellowish-brown : snout pale blue : lips, and thi-oat spotted with a darker blue : and
about five fillets of the same colour diverge from the orbit and cross the opercles. Tortuous blue lines along
the body. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, and China.

26. Serranus miniatus, D. Ts^Tei ^- ^-Voi L. r. yy , L. tr. 14/40, Cfec. pyl. 12 (Madras) to 16 (Andamans).
Sub- and inter-opercles serrated, as is also the vertical limb of the preopercle : opercle, with three spines, the
upper the shortest. Caudal rounded. Scarlet : body, cheeks, dorsal, caudal, and anal fins covered with large
blue spots. Two dark streaks from the orbit along the snout : fins darkest at their outer edges. Two rows of
lai-ge Islue spots along the hard dorsal, and six or eight over the soft, and the anal. Madras, Andamans, to the
Malay Archipelago.

27. Serranus giittatus, D. x^^to-, A. -^l-^, L. r. \%^, L. tr. 21/43, Csec. pyl. 8. Preopercle not emarginate :
edge very slightly if at all serrated. Browiaish-black, head, body, and all the fins with round blue black-edged
spots, caudal, anal, and the posterior half of the dorsal with a white edge. Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay
Archipelago, China, and Australia.

28. Serramis leopardus, D. t7''t5' -^- s-s' -'-'• "''■ 5~oi ^- ti'- 10/26. Reddish or yellowish : body spotted :
a dark baud from the eye to the opercle : one or two more over the free portion of the tail, and an oblique black
baud across either caudal lobe. Red Sea, through the seas of India to China.

29. Serranus Sonnerati, D. ^, A. f , L. r. iff, L. tr. 27/40, Case. pyl. 11 or 12. Vertical limb of pre-
opercle finely serrated : caudal rounded. A dull lake colour, the head, and jaws covered with reticulated
bright blue lines. Some very indistinct spots over the whole of the body. Fins lake colour, darkest at the
edges. Soft dorsal, anal, and caudal sometimes with lightish badly-marked spots. East coast of Africa, seas of
India to Sumatra, and the Louisiade Archipelago.

30. Serranus Boelang, D. -fj^, A. -g\, L. r. fa, L. tr. 18/36. Preopercle rounded, and its vertical border
finely serrated. Purplish, with eight or nine vertical bands on the body. East coast of Africa, Andamans to
the Malay Archipelago.

1. Serranus Stoliczkse, Plate I, fig. 3.
B. vii, D. H- P- 17, V. 1/5, A. j^_^, C. 17, L. r. i§;}, L. tr. 14/40.

Length of head, 3/11 to 2/7, of caudal 2/11 to 1/6, height of body 2/7 to 1/4 of the total length, ^yes-
diameter 1/4 to 2/9 of length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout and also apart. The maxilla extends to
below the posterior 1/.3 or hind edge of the eye. Vertical border of the preopercle emarginate, rather coarsely
serrated most so at its angle, its lower limb, sub- and inter-opercles entire. Teeth — canines in both jaws, the
outer row in the maxilla and the inner in the mandible larger than the vUliform bands. Fins — dorsal spines,
excluding the two first, of about equal length, and from two-fifths to half the height of the body : pectoral as
long as the head behind the middle of the orbit, and much longer than the ventral which reaches the vent :
second anal spine strongest, the third somewhat the longest, equalling the third of the dorsal fin : caudal
rounded. Scales — cycloid, extended over snout, suborbitals and hind half of maxilla. Culours — light brownish-
red, becoming hyacinth-red on the sides and below, barred with four vertical darker bands, the anterior
proceeding from the whole base of the spinous dorsal, these bands become indistinct in large specimens.

C 2

12 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

Head, and body, as far as the base of tlie soft dorsal, and anal, spotted with reddish-orange or gall-stone yellow,
which on the head, and sometimes as far as the base of the pectoral fin, are in hexagonal blotches, divided by
light lines. Base of pectoral white having a black crescentic band. Under surface of the throat and chest
with large black marks sometimes enclosing lighter spaces. Dorsal fin with chestnut-brown spots : some white
ones on the caudal, and anal.

I have dedicated this fish to the memory of my friend, and fellow worker in zoology, Dr. Ferdinand
Stoliczka, whose untimely death, due to excess of zeal in tlie cause of Natural History, is referred to in the
preface.

Haiitat. — Coast of Sind, very common at Aden : it attains at least 12 inches in length, the specimen
figured is inches long.

2. Serranus areolatus, Plate I, fig. 4.

Perca areolafa, Forsk. p. 42.

Perca tmtvina, Geoff. Descr. de I'Eg. pi. 20, fig. 1.

Serranus taiwimis, Geoft'. Poiss. d'Eg. p. 201.

Serranus areolatus (Japonicus), Temm. Schleg. Fauna Japon. p. 8; Cuv. and Val. ii, p. .350; Richards.,
Ich. China, p. 232 ; Peters, Wieg. Ai-ch. 1855, p. 235 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 149 ; Klunzinger, Verb. z. b. Ges.
Wien, 1870, p. 675.

Serranus chlorostigma, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 352 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 151.

B. vii, D. T-J.Vs, P. 15, 1/5, A. -I, C. 19, L. r. 105, L. tr. 19/47.

Length of head 3/10 to 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/4 of the total length. Eyes— diameter 1/5 to
1/6 of length of head, Ii diameters from the end of snout and 1 apart. Lower jaw the longer: the maxilla
reaches to below the posterior edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle obli([ue, serrated, and with much
coarser teeth at its somewhat produced angle : sub- and inter-opercles entire. Central opercular spine the most
developed. Teeth — small canines in both jaws, the outer row in the maxilla, and the imier in the mandible, rather
larger than the villiform bands. Fins — the third to the fifth dorsal spines the longest, and equal to the highest
rays : pectoral as long as the head behmd the middle of the eyes : thii-d anal spine 1| diameters of the orbit
in length, not quite so strong, but longer than the second : caudal emarginate : in some specimens the outer
I'ays are slightly produced, and the intermediate portion of the fin is cut square. Scales — slightly ctenoid.
Colours — reddish-brown, -n-ith hexagonal markiiig-s, formed by fine bluish-white lines, which exist over the head,
body, and fins, the last have dark margins edged with white. In Madi'as and Andaman specimens, the markings
on the fins are not always so distinct, whilst there is generally a white upper half to the last third of the caudal
fin. Sometimes the pectorals are of an uniform yellow and not marked.

The S. clilorostigma appears to be this species, with slightly stronger teeth at the angle of its preopercle
than seen in typical S. areolatus, the markings are the same but lighter.

Habitat. — Coasts of India, from the Red Sea to the Malay Archipelago, attaining a considerable size.
Largest sjaecimen obtained 21 inches in length, the one figm-ed is 9 inches.

3. Serranus Waandersi, Plate VIII, fig. 1.

Epinephelus Waandersi, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xi, f. 3, and EpLnephelini, p. 08.

B. vii, D. U, P- 18, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. r. «g:ii^, L. tr. 25/56.

Length of head 3/11, of caudal nearly 1/6, height of body 4/15 to 1/4 of the total length. Ei/es — diameter
2/9 (in a specimen 10 inches long) to 2/11 (in a specimen 20 inches long) of length of head, 1^ diameters from
end of snout, and from 2/3 to nearly 1 apart. The posterior extremity of the maxilla reaches to below the middle
of the orbit. Vertical limb of the preopercle rather strongly serrated, more especially at its angle, which is not
produced, its lower limb, as well as sub- and inter-opercles entire : three distinct opercular spines, the central
one being the most developed. Teeth — villiform, with an outer enlarged row in the upper and an inner in
the lower jaw : small canines in both jaws : a nai-row band along the centre of the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines
of moderate length, increasing to the fom-th which equals from 2/5 ui the young to 1/3 in the height of the body
below it, rays rather higher than the spines, soft portion of the fin and also of the anal rounded : pectoral
longer than the ventral, and equallmg the head behind the middle of the eye : anal spines rather strong, the
third the longest, and equal to four-fifths that of the highest in the dorsal fin : caud;d cut square in the young,
but slightly emarginate in the adult, owing to the prolongation of the outer rays. Scales — rather strongly
ctenoid, and thickly covering the snout, and suborbital ring of bones, as well as the posterior half of the maxilla.
Colours — dark pm-plish, lightest on the abdomen, the whole of the head and body as low as the pectoral fin, the
dorsal and upper third of the caudal, covered with large closely approximating rather dark edged blotches of
yellow, which are romided or hexagonal, those on the head being the smallest. Fins a little darker than the
body, and stained with black at their edges : dorsal with a white margin : pectoral orange, upper half of caudal
lighter than the lower (Male).

I first observed this species in the Madras Museum in 1867, where it was labelled iS'. salmonoides. I find
it amongst Sir Walter Elliot's drawings. Jerdon (IMadr. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 129) remarks under the head of
S. suillus, " In one specimen, of which I possess a di-awing, only the upper half of the caudal is spotted."

Eahitat. — Seas of India to the ^lalay Archipelago, attaining at least 2 feet in length, the specimen
figured is 10 inches long.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 13

4. Serranus undulosus, Plate II, fig. 1.
Eodianus undulosus, Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Freycinet, Poiss. p. 310 (not Serranus undulosus, Cuv. and

Val.).

Serranus lineatus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 312 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 129 ; Gunther, Catal. i,
p. 156.

Serraims Aniboinensis, Bleeker, Amb. and Ceram. p. 258 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 156.

Epinephelus undulosus, Bleeker, Epineplielini, p. 65, and Atl. Icli. t. 228, Pare. t. 10, f. 3.

B. vii, D. jJ.Vir, P- 19, V. 1/5, A. -g^.-^, C. 17, L. 1. ca. 90, L. r. iff, L. tr. 20/48, Cjbc. pyl. above 50.

Length of head from 2/7 to 3/11, of caudal 1/6, height of body 3/11 of the total length. Eyes — diameter
1/4 to 1/5 of length of head, from 1 to 1 j diameters from the end of snout, and from 1/2 to 3/4 of a diameter
apart. The maxilla reaches to below the last third or even the hind edge of the orbit. Preopercle serrated along
its vertical edge, and with from two to four strong denticulations at its angle which is rather produced, especially
in the adult : sub- and inter-opercles entire. Opercular spines distinct, the central one the most developed.
In the fry a distinct sprue exists at the angle of the preopercle. Teeth — one or two rather small canines on both
sides of the symphysis in either jaw, those in the upper the larger : outer row of teeth in maxilla, and inner in
the mandible larger than the vrllifomi bands. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the third to the
fifth the longest, equal to the distance between the hind edge of the orbit and the upper opercular spine, and
nearly as high as the rays : pectoral and ventral of about the same size, and equal to the postorbital length of the
head : second anal spine the strongest and nearly as long as the third, which equals one and a third diameters of
the orbit in length. Soft portions of dorsal and anal fins somewhat rounded : caudal cut square in the adult, but
rather rounded in the young. Scales — ctenoid. Colours — reddish-grey, becoming lighter on the abdomen :
numerous oblique nan-ow brown (blue ?) bands of varying length, and usually somewhat sinuous above the lateral-
line not following the course of the scales, whilst they are more or less horizontal below it : dots and yellow
lines on the head : fins rather dark, and stained at their edges.

I place this sjjecies as iS'. undulosus, in accordance with Bleeker's observations. There is no doubt but
that it is identical with S. lineatus C.V., the type specimen of which (a skin) exists in Paris.

Amongst Sir Walter Elliot's drawings is one of this fish, termed Seela panni, October, 1848.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and China. It is not uncommon at iladras where the
young are numerous during the cold season. The longest specimen obtained was 12 inches.

5. Serranus merra, Plate II, fig. 2.

.'' Perca tauvina, Forsk. p. 39 ; Gmel. Linn. p. 1316.
Epinephelus merra, Bloch, t. 329; Bl. Schn. p. 300 (not Bleeker).
.'' Holoeentrus tauvina, Bl. Schn. p. 321.

Serranus Gilbeiii, Richardson, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1842, p. 19, and Ich. China, p. 230 ; Giinther, Catal. i,
p. 148.

Serranus megachir, Richards. Ich. China, p. 230.

Serranus pardalis, Bleeker, Perc. p. 37.

Serranus Quoyamis, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 153 ; (? Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 519).

Epinephelus pardalis, Bleeker, Ternate, p. 232.

Serranus tauvina, Klunz. Pisch. d. Roth. Meer. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 683.

Epinephelus Gilbert!, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 91.

B. vii, D. -i-J.Vy, p. 18, V. 1/5, A. -j?^, C. 17, L. r. |^, L. tr. 16/32.

Length of head 2/7 to 3/11, of caudal 2/9, height of body 3/11 to 1/4 of the total length. :E7i/es— diameter
1/4 to 2/9 of the total length, 3/4 of a diameter fi-om the end of snout, and also apart. Snout obtuse. The
maxilla reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit. Preopercle rounded, its vertical border coarsely but evenly
serrated, its lower edge and also the sub- and inter-opercles entire. Central opercular spine well developed.
Teeth — small canines in both jaws, the outer row of teeth in maxilla, and inner in mandible, slightly larger than
the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines rather strong, the fourth somewhat the highest, equalling two-fifths
of the length of the head, but not so long as the rays, from it they decrease to the last : soft portion of dorsal, and
anal fins somewhat angularly rounded : pectoral large, as long as the head, and longer than the ventral : second
anal spine strongest, and about as long as the third which slightly exceeds the second of the dorsal fin : caudal
fan-shaped. Scales — ctenoid. Colours — reddish-brown, covered with large brown spots, except on the pectoral
fin, on the head they appear to be usually somewhat hexagonal, with a light intervening reticulation : the
marks on the body are larger, and also are usually hexagonal : pectoral with a dark semilunar mark over it.s
base divided by a light band from the dark grey of the rest of the fin, which, as well as the ventral, and anal, has
a black margin. A fine specimen in the Berlin Museum has a light edge to the pectoral fin.

Bloch's type specimen of Epinephelus merra (pi. 329) is 8| inches in length, and stiU in Berlin amongst
his fishes.

;Si. Quay anus, apud Giinther has its scales thus : L. r. ff , L. tr. 16/, and appears to me to be closely allied
if not identical with S. merra, whilst it does not disagree vrith Valenciennes diagnosis, whose tj'pe specimen,
however, I have not examined.

Habitat. — Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and China. The specimen figured is
8^ inches long, and was captured at the Andaman Islands.

14 ACAISTTHOPTERYGII.

6. Serranus hexagonatus, Plate II, fig. 3.

Terca Jiexagonntn, Forster, Desc. An. p. 189.

Holocentrus hexagonatus. Bl. Schn. p. 323.

Holoceutrus inerra, Lacep. pp. 342, 384.

Serranus inerra etfaveattis, Cuv. & Val. ii, pp. 325, 329.

Serranus hexagonatus, Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 330 ; Guerin, Icon. Poiss. pi. 4, fig. 1 ; Richards. Voyage Sulpliiir,
p. 82, pi. 38, fig. 1 ; Cantor. Catal. p. 7; Bleeker, Nat. T. Ned. Ind. vi, p. 191 ; Peter.s, Monat. Ak. Wiss. 1865 :
Giinther, Catal. i, p. 141 & Fische d. Sudsee, p. 7, t. vii ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 25 ; Klunz. Fische d. Roth.
Meer. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien. 1870, p. G83.

Serranus confertus, Benn. Life Raffles, Fish. Sumatra, p. 686.

Serramis nigriceps, Cuv. & Val. vi, p. 517.

Einnephelus hexagonatus, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. 23, fig. 2.

Epinephelus merra, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 88 (not Bloch).

Naambu, Bel. : PiiUi-cullaivah, ' Spotted Perch' Tarn.

B. vii, D. -riJrr, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. r. W- L. tr. 13/36, Coec. pyl. 32, (24 Kner).

Length of head from 3/10 to 2/7, of caudal 1/C, height of body 2/7 to 1/4 of the total length. Eyes-
diameter 1/4 to 2/9 of the length of head, 1 to Ij diameters from the end of snout, and from 1/3 to 1 apart,
The maxilla reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle finely sen-ated in its
upper two-thirds, more coarsely so in its lower third, especially at its angle, which, though usually rounded, is
sometimes slightly produced and armed with one or two strong teeth, its lower Umb and also the sub- and iater-
opercles entire : the central opercular spine the most de'wloped. Teeth — canines in the upper jaw stronger than
those in the lower, the outer row of teeth in the maxiUa and the inner in the mandibles stronger than the vUliform
bands. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the fourth the longest, from whence they slightly decrease
to the last, which is not so high as the fii'st ray : soft portion of the dorsal and anal fins angularly rounded :
pectoral a little longer than the ventral and equal to the length of the head behind the middle of the eye :
second anal spine strongest and sHghtly the longest : caudal obtusely rounded. Scales — ctenoid. Colours —
reddish brown with a light reticulation causing the body, and also the pectoral, soft dorsal, and caudal fins to be
covered with hexagonal, or sometimes rounded markings. In some specimens the dark blotches become more
confluent, the light reticulations being indistinct.

Although Bloch 's figtu-e (t. 329) more resembles S. hexagonatus than the species under which I here
place ity'jaj reason for doing so is that Professor Peters has shown me the typo specimen which unquestionably
belongs to this species.

Serranus ajlindrkus, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 151, in some respects very closely resembles this species, its scales
are L. r. VV"' L. tr. 13/, the diameter of its eye 4§ in the length of the head, and 1 diameter from the end of
the snout. Although the body is more elongated, it is wider than normal. I almost think that it will tm-n out
to be a variety of this species.

In Cuv. & Val. it is suggested that Trachinus Adscensionis, Osbeck, ii, p. 96 belongs to this species, he
observes " the hodg is somewhat compressed and not quite round."

Hahitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India, Malay Archipelago to the Pacific. The specimen
figured was taken at the Andaman Islands and is a little over 8 inches in length,

7. Serranus maculatus, Plate II, fig. 4.

Holocentrus maculatus, Bl. t. 242, fig. 3 (young) ; Bl. Schn. p. 315.

Holocentrus albofuscus, Lacep. iv, p. 384.

Serranus Gaimardi, Cuv. & Val. vi, p. 520 ; Quoy & Gaim. Voy. Astrol. Poiss. p. 656, pi. 3, fig. 3 ;
Bleeker, Batav. p. 455 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 150 ; Playfair, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 847.

Serranus Sehce, Bleeker, Amb. p. 488 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 137.

Serranus maculatus, Bleeker, Boeroe, p. 398.

Serranus albofuscus, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 108.

Serranus longispinis, Kner, Voy. Novara, Poiss. p. 27, t. ii, f. 2 : Playfair, Fish. Zanz. p. 10.

E^'inejihelus Gaimardi, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. vii, fig. 1.

Epinephelus albofuscus, Bleeker, 1. c. Perc. xxvi, fig. 2.

Epinephelus macidatus, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 75, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. viii, fig. 3, & xi, fig. 2.

B. vii, D. yJ.V^, P. 18, V. 1/.5, A. |, C. 17, L. r. V¥> L. tr. 20/45.

Length of head 3/10 to 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body nearly 1/4 of the total length. Eyes — diameter
from 2/9 to 1/5 of the length of head, rather above 1 diameter "from the end of snout, and 1 apart. The maxilla,
wliich is rather wide posteriorly, reaches (in the young) to below the last thii-d of the orbit, and in the adult
to beneath its hind edge. Preopercle rounded, mth "its vertical border strongly but pretty evenly serrated,
whilst its angle is a little produced and has about eight coarse denticulations. Opcrcle -n-ith the central spine
well developed. Teeth — small canines in either jaw : the outer row in the maxilla, and the inner in the mandible
larger than the villiform bands. Fins^ioran^ spines of moderate strength : they increase to the third, which
equals half the length of the head, and is one half longer than the rays : from thence they decrease, but the last is
nearly as long as the rays ; the soft portions of the dorsal and anal are somewhat angular : pectorals longer than
the ventrals and equal to the length of the head from behind the middle of the orbit: second anal spine strongest
but not so long as the third, which is neai-ly one thii-d of the length of the head : caudal cut square but with

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 15

rounded angles. Scales — ctenoid. Colrmrs — deep gi'ey, with round black spots somewliat distantly placed on
the head, pectoral, and ventral fins : oval spots, having their longest diameter vertical, exist in the anterior half
of the body, becoming more like short thick sinuous lines on the last half. A black edge along the top of the
spinous dorsal, and some cloudy interspinous marks : the soft dorsal, anal, and caudal "with a black edge and
white margin.

Bleeker, in his excellent revision of the Epinephelini, observes that lie possesses a beautiful series of
specimens of this species showing the successive transitions in colonr, which certainly varies very considerably.
The young (maculatus) , according to Bloch's figure, appears to have a light ground colour with a dark band over
the head : a secoud, from the second to the fifth dorsal spine, passing downwards, encloses the pectoral, and
ventral fins : a third from the soft dorsal passes down to the whole of the anal : one more exists over the free
portion of the tail, and two on the caudal frn ; a dark horizontal band appears to connect the others along the
middle of the body.

The specimen figured (7 inches in length) fi'om the Andaman Islands agrees with Eoier's S. longispinis.
The type specimens of S. Gaimardi in the Paris Museum have a much higher body comparatively, whilst the
longest dorsal spine scarcely exceeds the length of the rays.

Habitat.— 'Ea.st coast of Africa, seas of India, Andamans to the Malay Archipelago, and China.

8. Serranus flavo-cseruleus, Plate III, fig. 1.

Holocentms flavo-cceruletis, Lacep. iv, pp. 331, 3ti7.
Holocentrus gymnosiis, Lacep. iii, pi. 27, fig. 2, and iv, pp. 335, 372.
Bodianics niacroceplialus, Lacep. iii, pi. xx, f. 2, and iv, pp. 281, 293, 295.
Perca Jlava-purpurea, Benn. Pish. Ceylon, p. 19, pi. 19.

Serranus Borbonicus, Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Uranie, Poiss. p. 313, pi. 57, f. 2.

Serranus floAio-ccerulem, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 297 ; Peters, Wieg. Arch. 1855, p. 236 ; Giinther, Catal. i,
p. 145.

CynicJithys flavo-purpuratus, Swains. Fish, ii, p. 202, f. 42, c. (head).
Epinepihelus flavo-cceruleus, Bleeker, Fish. Madagascar, p. 17.
Mungil cullawah, Tam. : Kaha-laweyah, Cingalese.

B. vii, D. -,i.Vt, p. 17, V. 1/5, A. ^h, C. 17, L. r. i+f, L. tr. 22/-.

Length of head 3/10, of caudal about 1/5, height of body 3/10 of the total length. Eyes — diameter
2/9 to 2/11 of the length of head, Ij diameters from the end of snout and 1 apart. The maxilla reaches to below
the hind edge of the orbit. Preopercle with its vertical limb finely serrated, more coarsely so at its angle,
where occasionally they are almost spinate :* lower limb, sub- and inter-opercles entire. Central opercular spine
rather strong. Teeth — small canines in either jaw, the outer row in the maxilla and the inner in the mandible,
larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines rather strong, increasing in length to the third which
equals about 3/8 of the height of the body, and is rather longer than the soft portion of the fin which, as well as
that of the anal, is rounded : pectoral as long as the head behind the middle of the eye : ventral reaches three-
fourths of the distance to the vent : second anal spine not quite so long as the thii-d : caudal emarginate. Scales
— ctenoid on the body, thickly covering the snout, pre- and sub-orbitals, likewise the posterior half of the
maxilla : about 18 rows between the lateral-line and the sixth dorsal spine : those on the chest and abdomen very
small, about 65 rows between the lateral-line and the median line of the abdomen. Colours — head and body of
a deep purplish blue : free portion of the tail and all the fins gamboge yellow: some yellow on the snout, maxilla,
chest, and opercular spines : an indistinct darkish band along the base of the spinous and first third of the rayed
portion of the dorsal fin : ventral, and caudal with fine black tips.

Jerdon says (M. J. L. and Sc. 1851), p. 129, " Serranus flavo-jmrpureus, Bennett. This very beautiful
fish is very rare at Madi-as. I never saw but one specimen. I procui-ed the very young at the Sacrifice rocks on
the Malabar Coast, it looked like a living sapphire." Bennett observes that it is scarce on the southern coast of
Ceylon, in the course of two years having met but with one specimen.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the West coast of Africa. The specimen figured was from the Andaman
islands, and is nearly 10|^ inches in length.

9. Serranus fasciatus, Plate III, fig. 2.

Perca faseiata, Forsk. p. 40 ; Gmel. Linn. p. 1316.

Epinephelus marginalis, Bl. t. 328, fig. 1 ; Bl. Schn. p. 300.

Holocentrus erythrceus, Bl. Schn. p. .320.

Holocentrus oceanicus, marginatus, Forslealii et rosmarus, Lacep. Poiss. iv, pp. 377, 384, 389, and 392, t. 7,
fig. 2 and 3.

Serranus marginalis, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 302; Richards. Ich. China, p. 233; Bleeker, Perc. p. 34; Peters,
Fish. Mossamb. p. 235, and Monats. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1865, p. 109 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 135 ; Kner, Novara
Fische, p. 24 ; Playfair, Fish. Zanzibar, p. 7.

Serranus variolosus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 354; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 139 (not syn.)

* On the rif;ht side of one specimen there are two almost spinate teeth at the angle, as described by Bleeker, they are not thna
present on the left side, where however the serrations are somewhat coarse.

16 ACANTHOPTERTGir.

Serranus oceanicus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 302 ; Giintlier, Catal. i, p. 100.

Serramis fasciatus, Klunz. Fisclie d. Roth. Meer, Verli. z. b. Ges. Wien. 1870, p. G81 ; Giintlier, Fisclie d.
Sudsee, p. 6, t, 6.

Epinephelus fasciatus, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 119.

B. vii, D. t^.Vt, P- 18, V. 1/5, A. y»^, C. 17, L. r. ||.

Length of head from 3/10 to 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 2/7 to 1/4 of the total length. %es—
diameter 1/4 to 2/9 of the length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. The
maxilla extends to below the hind edge of the orbit. Preopercle rather strongly serrated along its vertical
border, rather more coarsely so at its angle, above "which it is somewhat emarginate, its lower limb entire. Sub-
and inter-opercles either entire, or with a very few fine serrations. Central opercular spine the most developed.

Teeth canines in both jaws, the outer row of teeth in the maxilla, and the imier in the mandible larger than the

N-illiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines from the third of about the same length, but not so high as the rays, the
last are ecpial to two-fifths of the height of the body : pectoral slightly longer than the ventral, and equal to the
length of the head behind the middle of the eye : ventral not reaching the vent : second anal spine the strongest,
a little longer than the third which nearly equals the last in the dorsal fin : caudal rounded. Scales — on the
body ctenoid : from 12 to 14 rows between the lateral-line and the base of the sixth dorsal spine. Colours — in
(S'. fasciatus reddish or yellowish, with five dark vertical bands, a fine black edge along the whole of the dorsal
fin. In S. oceanicus the cross bands may be absent. In S. margiualis brownish or yello-svish, the dorsal, and
caudal fins being black edged. In S. variolosus brownish, with spots over the head, body, and soft dorsal fins.

Sir J. Richardson directed attention to the S. tsiriiiienara of the ' Fauna Japonica ' being distinguished
from this fish, owing to its possessing a row of five or six irregular whitish and indistinct spots on the flanks.
Bleeker observes that these spots are in two rows above, and below the lateral-line, irrespective of which on
comparing specimens of the two species of the same length together, he found that in the 8. tsirimenara the body
is less rounded, the head more pointed, and the rows of scales above and below the lateral line are •H-o-i+a • .

Ealitat. — From the Red Sea through those of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. The specimen
figured was taken at the Andaman islands, and is 7 inches in length.

10. Serranus tumilabris, Plate III, fig. 3.

Serranus stmana, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 344 ; Rupp. N. W. Fische, p. 102 and AtL p. 104 ; Lefeb. Voy.
Abyss. Zool. p. 229, pi. 5, f. 1 ; Klunzinger. Fische d. Roth. Meer, Verb. z. b. Ges. in Wien. 1870, p. 685
(not Forskal).

Serranus tumilabris, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 346 ; Gunther, Catal. i, p. 138 ; Playfair, Fish. Zanz. p. 8, pL ii,

f. 2.

Serranus Hoeveyiil, Bleeker, Verb. Bat. Gen. 1849, and Perc. p. 36 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 138 ; Playfair,

Fish. Zanz. p. 9, pi. ii, f. 3.

Serranus Kunhartii, Bleeker, Sumatra, p. 169.

Epinephelus Eoevenii, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. iv, f. 1, t. viii, f. 4, & t. xii, f. 4, and Epinephelini, p. 110.

B. vii, D. H, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 19, L. r. H, L- tr. 21/-.

Length of head from 1/3 to 2/7, of caudal about 1/6, height of body from 2/7 to 1/4 of the total length.
]<;ygs — diameter varies considerably, the following shows proportions in ten specimens in spirit. Four as S.
tmnilabris being as follows : —

1. Length of specimen h^„ inches : diameter of eye 2/9 of length of head : third dorsal spine rather
above 1/2 as long as head behind front edge of orbit.

2. Length of specimen G^ inches : diameter of eye 2/9 of length of head : third dorsal spine 1/2 as long
as head behind the middle of the orbit.

3. Length of specimen 8 inches : diameter of eye 2/9 of length of head : third dorsal spine not quite 1/2
as long as head behind the front edge of orbit.

4. Length of specimen 9 inches : diameter of eye 1/5 of length of head : third dorsal spine 1/2 the length
of the head behind the posterior nostril.

In No. 1, 2, and 3 the eye is 1 diameter from end of snout : in No. 4, 1^ diameters.
Six marked as S. Hoevenii are as follows : —

1. Length of specimen 2^% inches : diameter of eye 1/3 of length of head : third dorsal spine as long as
the post-orbital portion of the head.

2. Length of specimen 6 inches : diameter of eye 2/9 of length of head : third dorsal spine 1/2 the
length of the head behind tlie middle of the orbit.

3. Length of specimen 6 ^l inches : diameter of eye 1/4|- (6/25) of length of head : third dorsal spine
1/2 the length of the head behind the first 1/3 of the orbit.

4. Length of specimen 6^ inches : diameter of eye 1/4^ (4/17) of length of head : third dorsal spine
1/2 the length of the head behind the first 1/3 of the orbit.

5. Length of specimen ll^jy inches : diameter of eye 1/5J (3/16) of length of head : third dorsal spine
half the length of the head behind the first 1/3 of the orbit.

6. Length of specimen 20 inches : diameter of eye 1/6 of length of head : third dorsal spine 1/3 the
length of the head behind the fi-ont edge of the orbit.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 17

In immbers I, 2, 3, the eye is 1 diameter from the end of the snout : in number 4, 3/4 of a diameter : in
number 5, Ij diameters : and in number 6, 1^ diameters from the end of the snout.

The maxilla reaches to nearly or quite below the hind edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle
slightly emarginate, with the angle rounded, the whole being finely serrated, most coarsely so at its angle : sub-
and inter-opercles entire. In small specimens, e. g. 2i inches long, tliis species has a spine at its preopercular
ano-le, whicli becomes absorbed as ago advances : in some specimens some rather large denticulations are seen
at this place, due to this absorption not having been so rapid as usual. Teeth, — canines in both jaws, the outer
row in the maxilla, and the imier in the mandible, rather larger than the villiform bauds. Fins — dorsal spines
from the third continue of about the same length, from 2/5 to 1/3 of the height of the body : the pectoral longer
than the venti'al, and equalling the length of the head behind the middle of the orbit : second anal spine the
strongest, equal to or not quite so long as the third : caudal roiinded. Scales — ctenoid, about 14 rows between the
lateral-line and the base of the sixth dorsal spine. Colours — greyish olive, darkest along the back. Body and
head covered with irregxilarly sized pearly-white spots, whilst a black line exists on the maxilla. Fins dark gi'ey,
externally nearly black, the pectoral, ventral, soft dorsal, and anal with a narrow white border : the whole of the
dorsal fin white spotted. The colours vary much with age.

Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. The specimen figured
is 6 inches long.

11. Serranus diacanthus, Plate III, fig. 4.

Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 319 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 110 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 20.

Serranus sexfasciatus, Day, Fish. Malabar, (not Cuv. and Val.)

Damba, Sind : Chaandcha, Belooch.

B. vii, D. UM, P- 18, V. 1/5, A. 3'^, C. 17, L. r. >^", L. tr. 19-21/45, Case. pyl. 11.

Length of head 1/3 to 3/10, of caudal 1/5 to 2/9, height of body 1/4 to 1/5 of the total length. Eijes—
diameter 1/4 to 2/9 of the length of head, 1 diameter from the end of snout, and also apart. The maxilla
reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit: lower jaw the longer. Vertical limb of preopercle strongly
serrated, with two or three coarse teeth at its angle, its lower limb entire : sub- and inter-opercles entire. Three
spines on the opercle, the centre of which is the largest. In a young specimen (3 inches long) the serratures at
the angle of the preopercle are scarcely enlarged, but at 3| inches in length they commence to become coarser
than those along the vertical border. Teeth — one or two canines on either side of each jaw, those in the man-
dible being the smaller : outer row in the upper jaw rather stronger than the viUiform bands ; inner row in the
mandible a little the largest. Fins — dorsal spines rather weak, and being of nearly equal length from the third,
which equals two-fifths of the length of the head : pectoral rather longer than the ventral : second anal spine
rather longer than the third, and eqiwltothe_second of the dorsal fin : caudal rounded. Scales — ctenoid on
body, and in about 20 rows between the tirst dorsal iTpine aiid'tEe'latenil-line. Ccecal 'fylori — eleven long ones.
Colours — brownish, with a tinge of pink on the back, becoming rose-coloured on the abdomen. Six dark vertical
bauds, the first crossing the head : the second from the fourth to the sixth dorsal spines passing over the pectoral
to the base of the anal : the remaining three take the same direction, the last crossing the free portion of the
tail. A dark band passes from the orbit to the angle of the preopercle. Fins darkest at their margins.
Occasionally the bands are continued on to the dorsal fin. A specimen in the British Museum has a white edge
to the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins.

Dr. Jerdon, M. J. L. & Science, 1851, p. 129, observes of S. nelidosus, Cuv. & Val. "I procured one
specimen of this at Madras and one at Tellicherry." The latter, a copy of the figure of which exists amongst
Sir Walter Elliot's drawings, is the fish above described.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Ai-chipelago : at Kurrachee I took them 18 inches in length.

12. Serranus sexfasciatus.

(Kuhl & V. Hass.) Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 360 : Bleeker, Perc. p. 38 : Giinther, Catal. i, p. 108.
Fpinephelus sexfasciatus, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. t. 281, Perc. t. iii, fig. 2 & Epinephelini, p. 103.

B. vii, D. W, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 85.

Length of head 3/11, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/4 of the total length. %es— diameter 2/9 of
length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. The maxilla reaches to below the
hind edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle rather coarsely serrated, with two large spinous teeth at its
angle, the inferior of which is directed somewhat downwards. Opercular spmes well developed. Teeth — small
canines in both jaws, the inner row of teeth in the lower jaw, and outer one in the maxilla, longer than the
villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines moderately strong, increasing in length to the fourth and fifth, which equal
nearly half the length of the head, but are not quite so high as the rays : soft portion of fin, also of the anal,
and the caudal rounded : pectoral as long as the head excluding the snout : second anal spine stronger but not
quite so long as the third. Scales — ctenoid. Colours — brownish, with about six vertical darker bands, about as
wide as the ground colour : a few irregular dark spots about the body : dorsal, caudal, and anal yellow, with
numerous round black spots, those at the hind edge of the caudal almost forming a black band with a white
outer edge : pectoral and ventral greyish.

I examined two specimens of this species from Japan in the Berlin Museum, the largest being about
7 inches in length. This species I have not captured in India, the form I termed S. se.rfasciatus being tho

D

18 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

S. diacanthis as was pointed out to me by Professor Peters, who also showed me one of Yal. typical specimens
in the Berlin Museum.

13. Serranus lanceolatus, Plate IV, fig. 1.

Eolocentrus lanceolatus, Bl. t. 242, f. 1 ; Bl. Schn. p. 315; Lacep. iv, pp. 380, 383.

Perca sw<7(/a?ai/wo iowfoo, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 23, pi. 130. n ^.. , ^,, ■

SerrMtus lanceolatus, Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 31G ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 3.5 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 8 ; Gunther, Catal. i,
p 107 & Zool Record IHGt), p. 128; Blyth, Proc. Asiatic Soc. of Beng. xxix, p. Ill ; Day, Fishes of Malabar,
p. 4, pi. 1, fig. 1 & 2, & Proc. Zool. Soc. 18G9, p. 512 & 1871, p. C35 ; Playfair, Fishes of Zanzibar, p. 4.

Serramis horridus. Cantor, Catal. p. 9 (not Cuv. &^Val.)

Epmephelus lanceolatus, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 73. , i , m r> • o- j

Kurnipu, Mai. : Commaaree, if young Wutla-callawah or 'perch with a sore head, lam. : Gussir, bind. :
Bole, Chittagong : Nga-toivktoo-skweydoo, Arrak.

B. vii, D. tJ_V6. P- 19. V. 1/5, A. ^?^, C. 15, L. r. 'J^", L. tr. 20/52, Crec. pyl. many.

Leno-th of head 4/13 to 2/7, of caudal 1/5 to 1/6, height of body 2/7 to 1/4 of the total length. Ei/es—
diameter 1/1; to 1/8 in the length of the head, 1 to 1^ diameters from the end of snout, and from 1 m the young
to Ij in the adult apart. The maxilla reaches to a little beyond the vertical from the hind edge of the orbit.
Preopercle with its vertical edge having a shallow emargination above the angle, and finely serrated, becoming
somewhat coarsely so at the angle : its lower edge, and also the sub- and inter-opercles entire. Opercle with
the central spine most distinct. In tlie fry there is a well-developed spine at the angle of the preopercle.
Teeth— a smaU canine on either side of upper jaw, and a still smaller one in the lower jaw : no enlarged row m
the upper jaw, but the iimer row in the mandible, especially posteriorly, much the largest. J'/yts— dorsal spines*
not so high as the rays, its soft portion and also that of the anal rounded : pectoral longer than the ventral, and
equal to^the postorbital portion of the head : second anal spine stronger but shorter than the third : caudal
rounded. ,S'cn?es— cycloid, but usually with raised circular lines upon them, especially in the forepart of the
body, about 15 rows between the 6th dorsal spine and the lateral-line. Ccecal-pylori—yerj short, consequently
in tl'ie young appear almost like a gland. Colours— yavj with age, the very young being of a fine citron or
sulphur oTound-colour, having irregular vertical bands and markings, which become more distinct as the age of
the fish advances. About to a foot or even eighteen inches in length, the ground colour continues to be bright
yellow, with five vertical, blackish-blue bands, the first passing from the orbit downwards over the preopercle ;
the second from the nape to the opercle joins the first baud in its posterior margin, and coalesces with the third
behind or above the pectoral fin : the third proceeding from the bases of seven dorsal spines (3-lU), passes
dowiwards to the abdomen : the fourth passes from the fifth to the last dorsal ray, and descends to the base of
the anal fin : the last surrounds the free portion of the tail, j^i/is— yeUow with black spots or blotches, formmg
confluent bars at their bases, which on the pectoral are disposed in three or four undulating arched bands. In
the adult the black bands disappear, the ground colour- becomes greyish-brown, the whole being reticulated with
greyish-black lines. The fins retain most of their original yellow colour but the amount of the black decreases.

Amongst Sir Walter Elliot's drawings are two of the adult of this fish, termed Panni min and Pilli pumii,
having a remark attached "younger with transverse bars." _ i j i ■

In " Fishes of Malabar," I considered, as Cantor had previously done, that S. horridus was the adult ot
this species. Dr. Bleeker, however, who appears to have inspected the specimen at Leyden, states it to be
Serranus fu.scorjuttatus. . . .

Eahltut.—'E.-Aiit coast of Africa and seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, attammg a large size. Ihe
specimen fio-ured is about 15 inches long, and intermediate between the two figured m the '•Fishes erf Malalar,"
it is not included in the five referred to in the note. Respecting this fish, Cantor observes that '■ m one,
the weight of which exceeded ISOlbs., the stomach contained remains of Stromateus, Sphi/rna Bluchu, and of a
Limulus."

14-. Serranus erythrurus.

Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 320.

B. vii, D. 11/16, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. 3/9, C. 17.

Vertical border of preopercle finely serrated, its horizontal limb entire. Khs— rounded. Colours— on
the back and upper surface of the head greenish, variegated with red, silvery-white below : dorsal greemsh :
ventral, anal, and pectoral yellowish : tail reddish.

» To show how the comparative length of the dorsal spines vary, not only with age, but with specimena, I subjoin the measiue-
ments of live iu my collection :

1. Length of specimen 4/0 inches : of 4th dorsal spine equal to -rs of the entire length of the fish.

2. „ „ ' 1 O )» • )» )) » 3 5 )> "

3. „ „ 13 ,, : ,, „ „ Ta" >» j»

4. „ ,,13 „ : „ „ „ TS » "
6. „ „ 22 „ ; „ „ - )) 2 r >'

The late Mr. Blyth having examined pi. 1, in the Fishes of Malabcer, suggested my asserting on his authority, that they represented
the identical species he reterrcd to iu the Pro. of the Asi. Soc. and were the young and old of one sort.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 19

Habih-d.—llAahai- to 3 feet in lengtli. I have not seen this species that I am aware of, unless it is a
Lutianus. It may probably be Russell's Ban goo.

1 5. Serranus Malabaricus, Plate IV, fig. 2.

Eolocentnis Malaharicus, Bl. Schn. p. 319, pi. 63.

Holocentrus iKintlieriims, Lacep. Poiss. iii, t. 27, f. 3 andiv, pp. 389 and 392.

Perca hontoo and P. madinawa hontoo, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, pp. 20, 21, pi. 12/ and 128.

Bola ? coioides, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 82, 369. ^ , . , ^o -r.

Serranus hontoo, Cuv. and Val. ii, pp. 3Si, -si, p. 523 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 11 ; Gunther, Catal. i, p. 138 ; Day,

Fish. Malabar, p. 3. „ .. ^ „.. ,, r^ . , ■ m-

Serranus suillus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 33.5; Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen. xxu, p. 9; Gunther, Catal. i, p. 12/ ;

Playfair, Fish. Zanz. p. 5.

Serra7ii(.s macidosus et panthermus, CvLv. RndYa\.u, -pp. .j3-2 and SSS.

Serramis crapao, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 494; Rich. An. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1842, ix, p. 25; Bleeker, Verh.
Bat. Gen. xxii, Perc. p. 37 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 137.

Serranus diacopeformis, Benn. Life Raffles, Fish. Sumatra, p. 68b.

Serranus nebidosus et scliilpan. Richards. Ich. China, pp. 231, 232.

Serranus coioides. Cantor, Catal. p. 11.

Epinephelus crapao, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. viii,^f 1.

Epinephelus pantherhius, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 78.

Funni-ealawah, Tam. : Bontoo, Tel. : Bool, Chittagong : Nga-towktoo, Arrak. : KijoulUheyga-kakadit, Burm. :
Edb-na-dah and 0-ro-tam-dah, Andamanese.

Variety, S. hontoo, Madinawah hontoo, Tel. : Bow-je-dah, Andam.

B. vii, D. \i:\f, P. 19, V. 1/5, A. ^^.^, C. 15, L. 1. 90, L. r. VV- L. tr. 19/50, Ca3C. pyl. 50-60.

Length of head 3i to Sf, of caudal 1/5 to 1/6, height of body 2/7 to 1/4 of the total length. Eijes—
diameter 1/5 to 1/6 of length of head, 1 to U diameters from the end of snout, and the same apart. Interorbital
space fiat : the prffimaxillary reaching to opp'osite the front edges of the orbit. The maxilla extends to below
the posterior edges of the orbit, or even behind it in large specimens. Vertical limb of preopercle slightly
emarginate, finely serrated, becoming more coarsely so at its rather square angle, where there exist from four to
seven coarse teeth, its lower margin entire, as are also the sub- and inter-opercles, occasionaUy there are two or
tkree serrations on the inter-opercle. Opercle with three spines, the central one being the longest. The fiy has
no spine at the angle of the preopercle. Teeth— one or two canines in either jaw, those m the upper usually the
lono-er • the outer row of teeth in the upper jaw, and the ianer in the lower, are the largest. i^/«s— the dorsal
spiSes from the third are of about the same height, and equal to one-half the length of the post-orbital portion
of the head, but not so high as the rays : the pectoral is longer than the ventral, and about equal the post-orbital
portion of the head indength, soft portions of dorsal and anal fins rounded : the second anal spine in most estuary
specimens equal the length of the third, but in marine ones it is often slightly shorter : caudal rounded. Scales-
ctenoid, and in about 15 rows between the 6th dorsal spine and the lateral line. Cecal pylori— bom 50 to 60,
but two or more open into a single basal tube. Co?oi«-«— brownish, fading to grey or dirty wlute on the abdomen :
the whole of the fish, even over to the branchiostegal rays covered with bright yellow or orange spots, which often
become brown after death : three large blotches on the inter-opercle appear to be present m all varieties of this
fish In the S. Malabaricus Bloch, some brown spots are often dui-iug life intermingled with the orange ones,
and it is vertically banded usually as follows ; one passes from the first four dorsal spines to the pectoral fin :
another from between the second and ninth to the abdomen : two more descend fi-om the soft dorsal fin, and a
fifth encircles the free portion of the tail : pectoral reddish spotted with yellow, sometimes the caudal, pectoral
and ventral fins are unspotted but marked with darker shades, or the bands are contmued on to them. This
variety is the commonest, mostly marine, and the bands are unusually well marked m the young. In the variety
S. hontoo, the bands when present bifurcate inferiorly, and the spots are all black ; this is a marme and the
rarest form, never appearmg to attain to a large size. In the variety S. coioides, H. B. = S. suillm, C. V.
the bands are absent, or else indistinctly visible ; this is mostly taken in estuaries or large rivers, as the Hooghly

at Calcutta. • j. >> i? i i. lo'?

Russell observed that the plate 128 (S. hontoo) may perhaps "be merely a variety ot plate U/
(S coioides) Hamilton Buchanan, p. 82, remarked of his coioides, " this fish agrees so well with the description
of 'the medinawa hontoo of Dr. Russell (Indian Fishes, vol. ii, no. 128) that I do not think them difierent
species," p. 82. Cuvier considered Russell's species distinct : Playfair, " Fishes of Zanzibar," doubted li they

might not be identical. , « ^ ^ • i ii r • -4.1

Russell records one taken at Vizagapatam in January 178b, which measured 7 feet m length, 5 m girtii,
and weio-hed upwards of three hundred pounds. Amongst Sir Walter Elliot's drawings is a figure of the banded
variety S. Malaharicus, marked Serranus suillus and Kullawaee: afoot and a half in length is given as the size of

The fish figured, pi. iv, fig. 2, is the variety coioides, the specimen being about 21 inches in length, and

taken at Calcutta. ,,.,-,-, i i • i, ^ .i ■ u

In one specimen of the variety S. hontoo 8^ inches long, not only has it 12 dorsal spmes, but the sixth

has also two separate spinate terminations.

Habitat.— Seas, of India to the Malay Archipelago, China, and beyond, attainmg to a very large size.

D 2

20 ACANTHOPTERTGn.

1 6. Serranns corallicola.

(KuM. and v. Hass.) Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 336.

Serranns aUioelioides, Bleeker, Pero. p. 38; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 12?; Kner, Novara Fisclie, p. 23.

Epinephelus alticeUoides, Bleeker, Atl. Icli. Perc. t. xxx, f. 1.

Epinephclus condUcula, Bleeker, EpineplielLai, p. 83.

B. Yii, D. ^\^, P. 18, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. r. ^»|^ (Cffic. pyl. 9, Kner.)

Length of head from 3?- to 3f . height of body 2/7 to nearly 1/-1 of total length. i7//es— diameter from
4j to 1/5 in the length of the head, and from 1/2 to 1 diameter apart. The maxilla reaches to below the hind
edge of the orbit. Vertical edge of the preopercle serrated, its lower limb and also the sub- and inter-opercles
entire : centi'al opercular spine the most developed. Teeth — canines in both jaws. Fins — dorsal spines increase
to the third or fourth which are about 2/5 of the height of the body, and 1/5 lower than the rays : pectoral as
long as the head without the snout : second anal spine the strongest, a little longer than the third and equal in
length to the last in the dorsal fin : caudal rounded. Scales — ctenoid on the body, about 14 rows between the
lateral line and the base of the sixth dorsal s])ine. Colours — greyish-brown covered all over with black spots,
soft dorsal, anal, pectoral, and caudal with a light edge.

Habitat — stated (Kner) to have been taken at JIadras, found in the Malay Archipelago.

17. Serranus salmoides, Plate IV, fig. 3.
Holocentrus salmoides, Lacep. iii, pi. 34, fig. 3, iv, p. 346.
Serranus salmoides, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 343.
? Serranus polijpodopJiilus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 37.

Serranus sahnonoides, Gunther, Catal. i, p. 128 ; Klunz. Verb. z. b. Gcs. Wien. 1870, p. 682.
? Epiinephelus polyplwdopthilus, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. v. fig. 1, and Epinephelini, p. 101.

B. vii, D. yJ.Ve, P- 18, V. 1/5, A. §, C. 17, L. r. V¥, L. tr. 24/50.

Length of head 3/10 to 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 4/15 to 1/4 of the total length. Eijei—
diameter 2/13 of length of head, 1\ to 2 diameters fi-om the end of snout, and 1| apart. The interorbital
space rather convex : the posterior end of the prasmaxillary extends to behind the level of the front edge of the
orbit. The maxilla reaches to rather beyond the posterior edge of the orbit. Preopercle slightly emarginate,
sen-ated along its vertical margin, with five or six deuticulatiuns at its angle, lower limb entire, as are also the
sub- and inter-opercles. Central opercular spine moderately distinct, the others indi.stinct. Teeth — small
canines in both jaws : an outer enlarged row in the maxilla, and an iimer in the mandible larger than the
villifoi-m bands. Fins — thii-d dorsal spine one third of the length of the head, they gradually decrease to the
last but none are so long as the rays : soft portions of the dorsal and anal fins rounded. Pectoral longer
than the ventral, equalling the length of the postorbital poi-tion of the head, it hardly reaches 2/3 of the
distance to above the anal spines : second anal spine the strongest, but not so long as the third, which e(juals
one-fourth to one-fifth of the length of the head : caudal rounded. Scales — cycloid on the head, ctenoid on the
body. Colours — dark reddish-brown, having round black spots over the head, body, and fins, those on the head
and jaws small. Large blotches or ill-defined bands on the body. In one of Val. specimens, these bands are
■well marked.

The specimen figui'ed was captured at the Andaman islands, it is about 12 inches in length.

Hahitat — Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. It is not common in India.

1 8. Serranus semipunctatus.
Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 341 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 114.
B. vii, D. Ai, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17.

Length of head 3/10, of caudal 4/21, height of body 4/17 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/6 of
length of head, 1^ diameters from end of snout, and 1^ apart. Upper surface of head broad and flat. The
maxilla reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit. Serrations on preopercle strong, having three coarse
teeth at its angle, but not spinate as in S. scxfasciatus. Teeth — moderately sized canines in both jaws, an outer
enlarged row in the maxilla, and several irregularly pointed teeth mixed with the villiform ones in the
mandible. Fins — dorsal spines moderately strong, increasing in length to the fifth, which equals half the
postorbital length of the head, and is not quite so high as the rays : the soft portion of the fin, and also of the
anal rather angular : pectoral as long as the postorbital portion of the head, and extending to nearly over the
anal spines : ventral not quite so long : third anal spine a little the longest, and equalling the third of the dorsal,
the second spine a little the strongest : caudal large, fim-shaped, and equal to the pectoral in size. Colours —
body reddish-bro-wn, with six or seven broad darker vertical cross bands : head and first portion of the body, as
well as the fi-ee portion of the tail, with some small well-marked spots : dorsal and anal yellow, and likewise
spotted : ventral grey.

It has been suggested that Perca scptemfasclate, Thunb. (Nov. Ac. Stock. 1793, pi. i, f. 1) is this species;
the specimen figured was obtained in Japan, and Professor Peters was good enough to show me one of Temm.
and Schlegel's types of Plectropoma snsuld from Japan, the two being compared appeared to entirely agree, whereas
the P. susul-i is evidently distinct from the <S'. semipunctatus.

Hahitat — Pondicherry, attaining at least 12 inches in. length.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. -21

19. Serranus summana, Plate IV, fig. 4.

Ferca summana, Forsk. p. 42 ; Gmel. Liun. p. 1317.

Bodianus summana, Bl. Schn. p. 334.

Pomacentms summana, Lacep. iii, p. 511.

S&rranm pohjstigma, Bleeker, Sumatra, ii, p. 2; Giintter, Catal. i, p. 129.

Serranns smnmana, Plajfair, Fish. Zanz. p. 8, pi. ii, fig. 1 (not Cuv. and Val. &c.).

Epiiiephelus summana, Bleeker, Epinepkelini, p. 105.

B. vii, D. ^\^, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. r. ^0°, L- tr. 21/48.

Length of head from 3/10 to 2/7, of caudal 2/11, height of laody from 3'10 to 2/7 of the total len.gth.
Eyes — diameter from 1/4 to 1/5 of the length of head, IJ diameters from the end of snout, and also apart. The
maxilla reaches to below the last third of the orbit. Preopercle with a very shallow emargination above its
angle, its vertical border finely serrated, its lower as well as the sub- and inter-opercles entire. Central opercular
spine the most developed. Tedli — moderate sized canines in both jaws, the outer row of teeth in the maxilla and
the inner in the mandible rather larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the
third to the fifth being the longest, equalling 2f in the height of the body, and slightly decreasing to the last : the
soft portion of the fin higher tlian the spinous, somewhat angular, as is also that of the anal : pectoral longer
than the ventral, and equalling the length of the head, excluding the snout : second anal spine the strongest, rather
longer than the third, and equalling the highest in the dorsal fin : caudal rounded. Scales — ctenoid on the body,
about 13 rows between the lateral-line and the base of the sixth dorsal spine. Colours — brownish, the body and
vertical fins covered with small round white dots, which are minute on the head or even absent, a black spot
above the maxiUary : soft portions of dorsal and anal fins with dark edges, having white margins.

Klunzinger observes that some specimens of 8. leucostigma, C.V. are the young form of S. summana,
C,Y.=S. tmnilu.hris, C.V. Peters has shown that Eolocentrus coiruleopwnctatus, Bloch=/S. alhoguttatus, C.V.^iV.
leucostigma, C.V.

'Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. It is very common at
the Andamans, where the specimen figured, (10 inches long) was captured.

20. Serranus dermochirus.

Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 513.

B. vii, D. ii, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17.

Length of head 4/13, of caudal 2/9, height of body 4/13 of the total length. iTyes— diameter 2/9 of lengtli
of head, 1 diameter fi'om end of snout, and nearly 1 apart. The maxilla reaches to somewhat behind the hind
edge of the orbit. Preopercle, with its vertical margin finelj- serrated, three well developed opercidar spines, the
central one being the longest. Teeth — a pair of canines on either side of both jaws, an outer enlarged row along
the sides of the upper jaw, and an inner one in the lower. Fins — dorsal spines strong, increasing in length to
the fourth, which equals two diameters of the orbit : pectoral longer than the ventral, and equal to the length of
the head behind the front edge of the orbit. Although, doubtless, the skin covering the fins is thick, it does not
appear to be remarkably so. Colours — the specimen appears to be covered with fine white spots along each
row of scales. It much resembles and is probably identical with S. summana.

Habitat. — Malabar. The specimen is over 12 inches in length.

21. Serranus morrhua, Plate V, fig. 1.
Cuv. and Val. ix, p. 434; Gunther, Catal. i, p. 154; Klunz. Verb. z. 1). Ges. Wien. 1870, p. 678.
Serranios jmcilinotus, Temm. Schleg. Fauna Japon. Poiss. pi. iv, A. f. 1 ; Richards. Ich. China, p. 233 ;
Bleeker, Verb. Bat. Gen. xxvi, p. 01 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 155.
Serranus radiatus. Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1807, p. 699.

B. vii, D. t^.Vt, p. 19, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. r. i|f, L. tr. 21/46.

Length of head nearly 1/3, of caudal 1/6, height of body 2/7 of the total length. %es— diameter 1/4 of
length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 1/2 a diameter apart. The maxilla reaches to below the hind
edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle slightly oblique, serrated, and with three or foui- strong denticula-
tions at its angle, its horizontal edge as well as the sub- and inter-opercles entire : opercle with three spines, the
central one the longest. Teeth — canines in both jaws, the outer row of teeth in the maxilla, and the inner in the
mandible, larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines moderately strong, increasing in length to the
third which eqiials two-fifths of the height of the body, and is nearly as high as the rays : third anal spine
the strongest, the second of nearly similar length and about equal to the third of the dorsal fin : pectoral as
long as the head behind the middle of the eye : ventral nearly reaching the vent : caudal rounded. Scales — on
body ctenoid, 14 rows between the lateral-line and the base of the sixth dorsal spine : none on the preorbital nor
on the maxUla in the young. Colours — (in the young) greenish-olive, becoming dull yellow on the abdomen. A
broad irregular-shaped bluish-white band passes from the posterior edge of the occiput to meet a similar one
from the opposite side : two more descend from the lower and posterior edge of the orbit to the base of the
pectoral fin : another proceeds from the upper margin of the preopercle, at first backwards, and opposite the
posterior third of the pectoral it curves upwards to the middle of the spinous dorsal on to which it is continued.

22 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

A small patcli of simOar colour exists in front of tlie base of tlie dorsal. Another band goes from the hind edge
of the pectoral to the front of the soft dorsal : two more similar bands cross the base of the tail, and several
shorter marks exist over the body. Spinous dorsal nearly black, soft dorsal and other fins yellow. Eyes
golden.

A young specimen exists in the Paris Museum, in which there are dark spots along the lines wliicli bound
the light spaces.

Adults are brownish, with aljout four curved longitudinal bands along the body, and four or five oblique
l)ands on the head, radiating from the eye.

Amongst Sir Walter Elliot's drawings is a figure of this speci-es, 3;% inches long, also of the j'oung,
lyLj inches, with the remark " taken at Waltair, March 9th, 1853."

Habitat. — From the Red Sea through those of India to Japan : the sjiecimen figured (life size) was
captured at Madras in 1867.

22. Serranus annularis, Plate V, fig. 2.
Sen-aims angujarls, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 353; Giintlier, Catal. i, p. 126.

Serraivus Celehicus, Bleeker, Celebes, i, p. 117; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 139; Klunz. Yerh. z. b. Ges. Wieu,
1870, p. 676.

Serranus areolatus, Playfair (not Cuv. and Val.) Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 848.

Serranus glaucus. Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 678.

Epinephelus Gelebicus, Bleeker, Atl. loh. Perc. xi, fig. 3, and Epinephelini, p. 60.

B. vii, D. yJ.L., p. 17, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 70, L. r. 105, L. tr. 23/40, Ca;c. pyl. 13-14.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 2/11, height of body 2/7 to 4/15 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/4 to
1/5 of the length of head, \\ diameters from the end of snout, and 3/4 to 1 diameter apart. The maxilla reaches
to below the last third of the orbit. Preopercle serrated, angle slightly produced, having two or three strong
• denticulations (more developed in some specimens than in others), the inferior of which sometimes is directed
downwards : occasionally there are a few denticulations upon the sub- and inter-opercles. Opercular spines well
developed, the centi'al one the longest. TeetJi — canines in both jaws, largest in tlie upper : outer row of teeth in
maxilla and inner in mandible larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines rather strong, increasing in
length to the third which equals 3/7 of the height of the body, and is rather more than that of the rays : pectoral
as long as the head, excluding the snout, and longer than the venti-al : second anal spine strongest but not
quite so long as the third, which equals one and a quarter diameters of the orbit : caudal emarginate. Scales —
ftenoid. Colours — grej'ish, becoming dirt)' white along the abdomen : head and body studded rather closely
with yellow spots, which become brown in preserved specimens : j^cctoral, dorsal, anal, and caudal also spotted,
which spots sometimes form lines or bands, and all the fins with a black margin edged with wlute.

Hahitat. — Seas of India and Ceylon to the Malay Archiiselago, attaining two feet or more in length ;
the specimen figured is 7 inches long.

23. Serranus fuscoguttatus, Plate Y, fig. 3.

Perca summana, var.fuscor/uttata, Forsk. p. 42 ; Gmel. Linn. p. 1317.

Serranus fusco<juttatus, Riipp. Atl. Fische, p. 108, t. 27, fig. 2; Peters, Wieg. Arch. 1855. p. 235 ; Giinther,
Catal. i, p. 127; Kner, Yoy. Xovara, Poiss. p. 22; Playfair, Fish. Zanzibar, p. 5; Klunz. Yerh. zool.-bot. Ges.
in Wien, 1870, p. 684.

Serranus horriJus (KvM. and Y. Hass.) Cuv. and Yal. ii, p. 321 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 36 ; Giinther, Catal.
p. 136.

Serranus geographicus, (Kuhl. and v. Hass.) Cuv. and Yal. ii, p. 322 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 150.

Serranus dispar, Playfair, Fish. Zanz. p. 6, pi. i, fig. 2 and 3 ; Giinther, Fische d. Sudsee, Heft i, p. 'J.

JSpinephelus liurridus, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxix, f. 3.

Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 93.

B. vii, tJ_l_, p. 19, V. 1/5, A. J^^, C. 17, L. r. Vif , L- tr. 22/56 (Ckc. pyl. 24, Kner).

Length of head from 1/3 to 4/13, of caudal 1/6, height of body 4/13 to 2/7 of the total length. Eyes—
diameter 2/9 to 1/6 of the length of head, 1} diameters from the end of snout, and 1 apart. The maxilla reaches
to beyond the vertical from the hind edge of the orbit. Preopercle usually convex, but in some specimens with
a very shallow emargination above its rounded angle, serrated in its whole extent, most coarsely so at its angle,
lower limb and also the sub- and inter-opercles entire. Opercle with rather badly developed spines, the central
one the most conspicuous. Teeth — small canines in both jaws, the outer row in the maxilla and the inner in
the mandible, larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines rather strong, from the third of about equal
length and not so long as the rays, the third equals about 2/7 of the length of the head: pectoral longer than
the ventral, and as long as the postorbital portion of the head : third anal spine equal in length to the third"
dorsal one, and though longer, not so strong as the second : caudal rounded. Scales — cycloid. Colours —
gi-eyish, with brown spots of a larger or smaller size irregularly disposed, they are sometimes hexagonal on the
head : pectoral and caudal may be banded : sometimes three or four narrow white lines cross the lower jaw.
There are some larger blotches on the head and body, and one across the free portion of the tail. In some
specimens only the large cloudy blotchings or markings are present on the body.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 23

Eal!tat.—Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India, Malay Arcliipelago and beyond. Tlie specimen
figured is 9| inches in length and from the coast of Sind.

24. Serranus grammicus, Plate V, fig. 4.

Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 700.

B. Y\i, D. H, P- 19> V- 1/5. A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 85, L. r. VV. L- tr. 17/44.

Length of head about 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 2/7 of the entire length. iJj/es— diameter 1/5
of leno-th of head. If diameters from the end of snout, and 1 apart. The maxilla reaches to below the posterior
edo-e of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle oblique, finely serrated in its upper two-thn'ds, becoming coarser
lower down, and having several large denticulations at its angle, which is slightly produced : its lower limb
entire as are also the sub- and inter-opercles. Opercle with thi-ee spines, the central one the strongest. Teeth—
a small canine on either side of the upper jaw : a slightly enlarged outer row in the maxilla, and an inner one in
the mandible. J'/zis— dorsal spines of moderate strength, the foui-th slightly the longest, and equal to one and ;i
third diameters of the orbit in length, but not so long as the rays : pectoral as long as the postorbital portion of
the head, and longer than the ventral, which latter only reaches half way to the vent : second anal spine the
strontrest' the tliird one-fourth longer, and equal to the second in the dorsal fin : soft portions of the dorsal and
anal somewhat rounded : caudal very slightly rounded. ScaZes— cycloid, with raised roughened irregularly
disposed lines upon them, those between the pectoral fin and the lateral-line being the largest. Snout and
suborbital ring of bones scaled, very few on preorbital or maxilla. C'oZo!(rs— greyish with a golden gloss about
the head. A narrow black line runs from the upper margin of the orbit to the last dorsal spine : a second passes
from the upper third of the orbit to the superior opercular spine and on to the base of the sixth dorsal ray : a
third from the lower edge of the orbit to below the central opercular spine and on to the upper third of the
caudal tin, where it assumes the form of rounded blotches : an intermediate band exists on the head between
the second and third. Dorsal fin with a row of black spots along its centre and tipped with black : caudal
yellow with numerous black spots, and the extremities of its rays black, anal with a black edge. Eyes golden.

Dr. Jerdon, in the Madi-as Journ. Lit. and Sc. 1851, p. 130, remarks : " I possess a drawing of another
Serranus of a reddish-fawn-colour, brownish on the back, with three longitudinal brown lines," otherwise as
described above. The figure he alludes to is amongst Sir Walter Elliofs illustrations.

Habitat. — Madi-as, where the above single male specimen, 15 inches in length, was taken in 18C7.

25. Serranus boenack, Plate VI, fig. 1.

Bodianus boenack, Bloch, iv, p. 44, t. 226 ; Bl. Schn. p. 330.
Perca rahtee hotitoo, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 22, pi. 129.
Seicma formosa, Shaw, Zool. Misc. p. 23, t. 1007.

Serranus fonnoms, Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 311; Richards. loh. China, p. 233; Bleeker, Perc. p. 31 ; Gunther,
Catal. i, p. 154; Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 7 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 26.
Serranus boenacJi, Cuv. & Val. ii, p. 362.

Serranus hoenack, Peters, Monats. d. Akad. Berlin, 1865, p. 105.
Epinephelus formosus, Bleeker, Epinepheliui, p. 59.
Upinephelus boenach, Bleeker, Fish. Madagascar, p. 8.
Verri-ndlaivali, Tam.
B. vii, D. Ta?T^, p. 15, V. 1/5, A. ^.^^„), C. 17, L. 1. 90-95, L. tr. 22/43.

Length of head 2/7 to 3/8, of caudal 1/5 to 1/6, height of body 1/3 to 3/10 of the total length. Hues—
diameter 1/5 to 2/11 of length of head, rather above 1 diameter from end of snout, and 3/5 of a diameter apart.
The maxilla reaches to below the last third or hind margin of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle rather
convex, and a little emarginate above its angle in the adult but not in the young, its upper two-thirds finely
serrated, more coarsely so at its angle, where the serrations are rather irregularly disposed : lower limb entire,
as are also the sub- and inter-opercles (in one specimen both sub- and inter-opercles are serrated). Three strong
opercular spines, the central being the most developed. Teeth — one or two strong canines or either side of both
jaws, the upper being generally somewhat the larger : the outer row in the upper jaw, and the inner in the lower,
being larger than the others. Fins — dorsal spines from the third are of about the same length, the longest being
3/4 tiie length of the longest ray : soft portions of the dorsal and anal obtusely angular : second anal spine the
strongest, equal in length to the third in the adult or even longer in the young : caudal rounded. Scales —
ctenoid, covering the forehead and preorbital but none on maxilla. Colours — when alive very brilliant, but fading
after death. Generally yellowish-brown, snout pale blue, lips and throat spotted with a deeper blue, whilst
about five fillets of the same colour diverge from the orbit and cross the opercles and branchial membranes.
Blue and rather tortuous horizontal lines pass from the head towards the tail below the kiteral line, whilst above
it are about eight more dii-ected backwards, upwards, and continued on to the dorsal fin throughout its whole
extent ; these blue lines are likewise continued on to the other fins, except (occasionally on) the ventrals, which
however become nearly black at their extremities. Some blue spots exist anterior to the base of the ventral
fin (male), also occasionally on the jaws.

There are three figures of this fish amongst Sir W. Elliot's drawings, termed Nama panni, Neela panni,
and Panaina JniUawaie : one was captured at Waltair, March 24th, 1853.

24 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

Tlie specimen termed Serra7uis formos7is, " adult : stuffed Isle de France," in tbe British Museum Catalogue
1. c. is, as Dr. Bleeker suggests (Fish. Madagascar, p. 20), identical -n-ith Ejjinephelas PoUeni, Bleeker, 1. c. p. 19 :
the caudal is cut nearly square instead of being rounded as in iS'. hoenadc. A beautiful specimen exists in the
Paris Museum received from M. Lienard, of the Maui'itius, but the description I am unable to recognise in his
papers.

Habitat. — Seas of India and Malay Archipelago to China.

26. Serranus miniatus, Plate VI, fig. 2.

Ferca miniata, Forsk. p. 41 ; Linn. Gmel. p. 1317.
Bodianus viiniatus, Bl. Schn. p. 332.

/SerrrtwiM 7re»»'niMS, RiJpp. Atl. Fische, p. 106, t. xxyi, f. 3; GUnther, Catal. i, p. 118, and in Giarretts.
Fische d. Sudsee, Heft, i, p. 5, pi. v; Klunz. Fische d. Roth. Meer. vei-h. z. b. Ges. Wien. 1870, p. Q7fi.
Serranus guttatus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 357.
Diaeope nimiata, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 433.
Cromileptes miniatus, Swains. Fish, ii, p. 201.

Serranus cyanostigmatoides, Bleeker, Verb. Bat. Gen. xxii, Perc. p. 31 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 117.
Hpinephelus cijayiostif/niatoides, Bleeker, Ternate, p. 232, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. v, f. 3.
Epiinejihehis argus, Bleeker, Waigiou. p. 296.
Ejnnephelus miniatus, Bleeker Epinephelini, p. 53.

B. vii, D. TT-T6> P- 18, V. 1/5, A. A, C. 17, L. 1. 90, L. r. \7, L- tr. 14-10/40, dec. pyl. 12 (Madras)—
16 (Andamans).

Length of head from 4/13 to 2/7, of caudal 1/7, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Eijes — diameter
from 1/5 to 1/6 of length of head, 1 to 1| diameters from the end of snout, and f of a diameter apart. The
maxilla reaches to below the posterior third or hind edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preoperele usually
somewhat emarginate above its angle, the whole being finely and evenly seri'ated, as are also the sub- and inter-
opercles. Opercular spines well developed, the central one being the largest. Fitis — dorsal spines rather strong,
the fourth or fifth somewhat the longest, and equal to one-third the height of the body, the last neai-ly as high
as the first ray : pectoral as long as the head, exclusive of the snout, and longer than the ventral, which reaches
three-fourths of the way to the vent: caudal rounded. Scales — ctenoid. Colours — uniform scarlet: body,
cheeks, opercles, dorsal, caudal, and anal fins covered with large blue spots, the size of which equals the extent
of from 2 to 5 scales : two blue spots opposite the base of the pectoral. Two dark streaks from the orbit along
the snout. The fins darkest at their margins : two rows of large blue spots along the spinous portion of the
dorsal, and six or eight over the soft dor.sal and the anal : one or two spots near the base of the pectoral, which
fin is sometimes spotted all over.

Peters (Wieg. Arch. 1855, p. 235) considered »S'. cyavnstirjma as identical with this species. Bleeker
(Epinephelini), p. 56, observes that though closely allied they appear to be distinct, as the colour is constantly
different : the scaling of tlie snont is not identical, and it has D. rr-Te'- -P- 16-17, C. 19.

Habitat. — Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Ai-chipelago and beyond. The specimen figured is 9
inches in length.

27. Serranus guttatus, Plate VI. fig. 3.

Bodianns guttatus, Bl. t. 224 ; Bl. Schn. p. 330 ; Lacep. iv, p. 296.

Epinephelus argus, Bl. Schn. p. 301.

Gephalop'holis argus, Bl. Schn. p. 311, pi. 01.

Serranus hemistictus, Riipp. Atl. p. 109, t. xxvii, f. 3 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 119 ; Klunzinger, Verh. z. b.
Ges. Wien. 1870, p. 680.

Serranus viyriaster, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 305 ; Riipp. Atl. p. 107, t. xxvii, f. 1 ; Richards. Ich. China,
p. 233; Less. Voy.'Coq. Poiss. pi. 37; Bleeker, Nat Tyds. Ned. Ind. vi, p. 192.

Serranus argus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 360 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 115 ; Peters, Berlin. IMonats. 1865, p. 103.

Serranus guttatus, Peters, Wieg Arch. 1855, p. 235 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 119, and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 5,
t. iv; Kner, Voy. Novara, p. 22 ; Klunz. Fische d. Roth. Meer. 1. c. ji. 686.

Epi)iephelus argus, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 57.

B. vii, D. xa'x^, P. 18, V. 1/5, A. ^%, C. 17, L. r. \U. L- tr. 21/43, Ca3c. pyl. 8.

Length of head 1/3 to 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total length. E//es— diameter
from 1/5 to 2/13 of the length of head, 1\ diameters from the end of snout, and 1 apart. The maxUla reaches
to beyond the vertical from the hind edge of the orbit.' Pi-eopercle, its vertical limb rounded and finely serrated,
lower limb entire : a few serrations on the Lnteropercle. Three well developed opercular spines, the central one
being the longest. Teetli — rather small canines in both jaws, the outer row of teeth in the maxiUa and the
iimer in the mandible are larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines rather strong, increasing in
length to the fourth and fifth, which equal about one-third the height of the body : pectoral rather longer than
the ventral : second anal spine strongest and slightly longer than the third : soft portions of the dorsal and
anal fins angularly rounded : caudal rounded. Scales — ctenoid. Colours — usually reddish-brown and mostly
with darker vertical bands ; head, body, and all the fins (except occasionally the pectoral and ventral) covered
with numerous small blue spots : dorsal, anal, and caudal with a fine white border.

In the variety figured, S. hemistictus, the cross bands are not seen : the spots on the upper half of the
body are very few, and the pectoral has a broad yellow edge.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 25

Habitat.— Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to tlie Malay Arcliipelago, China, Australia, and
beyond. The specimen figured is 9 inches in length.

28. Serranus leopardus, Plate VI, fig. 4.

Lahrus leopardus, Lacep. iii, p. 517, t. 30, f. 1.

Serranus leopardus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 33G ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 123 and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 4, t. 3,
f. B. (excl. synonym, pt.)

Serranus spilurus, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 433 ; Bleeker, Flores, p. 322.

Serranus Homfrayi, Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 678.

Epinephelus zanana, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Pero. t. x, fig. 2.

Epinephel'us leopardus, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 61.

B. vii, D. , 3?TT, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. 3^, C. 17, L. r. (if )|J-, L. tr. 10/26.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/3 of the total length. Eyes — high up, diameter
largest in the immature, fi-om 1/5 to 1/6 of the length of the head in the adult, from 1 to 1 j diameters from end
of snout in the adult and nearly 1 apart. The maxQla reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit. Vertical
limb of preopercle rounded and very finely serrated ; the serrations extending along its angle but not to the
lower limb : interopercle usually with a few fine serrations along its posterior half Teeth — canines in both jaws,
the outer row in the maxilla, and the inner in mandible larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines
strong, the fifth the longest but not equalling the length of the rays : soft dorsal and anal rounded : pectoral as
lono- as the head exclusive of the snout : second anal spine the strongest and slightly the longest : caudal
rounded. Scales — rather strongly ctenoid on the body, 8 rows between the lateral-line and the sixth dorsal
spine, they cover the snout, preorbital and suborbital ring of bones and the posterior half of the maxilla. A
badly marked line, very similar to the lateral-line, passes along the scales near the bases of the dorsal and anal
fins. Colours — vary, red or yellow predominating. The body may be whitish covered with round or oval red
spots which are extended over the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. A dark band passes from the eye to above the
upper opercular spine behind which it terminates in a black spot : one or two black bands with or without a
white edgmg may be present over the free portion of the tail : caudal with a white or blue spot at either of its
outer angles, and a triangular black band across its last third. This baud may be broken up into an oblique
mark across either side of the tail, or may even be seen quite white as in the lower one of the figm-e.

Habitat. — From the Red Sea thi-ough those of India to China ; the one figured life size, was taken at
the Andaman Islands.

29. Serranus Sonnerati, Plate VII, fig. 1.
Perca rubra, Sonnerat.

Serranus Sonnerati, Cuv. and Val. Li, p. 299 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 122 ; Playfair, Fish. Zanz. p. 3, (exc.
pi. iii, fig. 1.)

Serranus pachycentron, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 295.

Serranus erythrxus, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 516 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 116 ; Playfaii-, Fish. Zanz. p. 2, pi. i, f 1.

Serranus pachycentrum, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 116.

Epinephelus nigripinnis, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. vi, f 2 ; and Epinephelini, p. 39 ; {? Serranus nigripinnis,
Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 339).

Siggapu cullaivah, Tarn.

B. vii, D. „'tt, P- 18-19, V. 1/5, A. ^?^, C. 17, Ca3c. pyl. 11-12, L. r. Hi'm, L- tr. 27/40.

Length of head 3/10 to 2/7, of caudal, 2/13 to 1/7, height of body, 4/13 to 2/7 of the total length.
■ Eyes — diameter 2/11 to 2/13 of the total length, 1^ to 1| diameters from the end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter
apart. Profile from the snout to above the ej-es rather concave. The maxilla reaches to a slight distance
beyond the hind edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle sometimes slightly oblique above its angle, it is
very finely serrated in its whole extent : lower limb with irregular notches, and serrated, occasionally coarsely
so : sub- and inter-opercles finely serrated : the two upper opercular spines more developed than the lower.
Teeth — one or two well developed canines on either side of both jaws, largest in the lower : the outer row of teeth
in the maxilla and the inner in the mandibles larger than the villiform bands. Fins — dorsal spines moderately
strong, increasing in length to the third from whence they continue to very slightly augment in height to the
last which equals 2/7 of that of the body, the inter-spinous membrane is slightly emarginate and not lobed, the
rayed portion is about one-fourth higher than the spinous, it and the soft part of the anal rounded : pectoral as
long as the head beliind the front edge or middle of the eye, and rather longer than the ventral : second anal
spine the strongest but not quite so long as the third, wliich nearly equals the third of the dorsal : caudal
rounded. Scales — cycloid on the head, ctenoid on the body, fine ones are continued for some distance up the bases
of the soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins : fine ones over the snout, sub-orbital and the anterior and lower portion
of the preorbital : the hind half of the maxilla sometimes has very fine ones, at other times it is destitute of any.
There are 14 or 15 rows of scales between the sixth dorsal spine and the lateral line at its highest point which
is below it. There exists a badly marked line, much similar to the lateral line, running along the scales near the
bases of the dorsal and anal fins. Colours — of a dull lake, with the head and to below the first half of the
spinous dorsal fin covered vrith a net-work of blue lines enclosing spots from one-sixth the diameter of the eye,
to spaces larger than it. Some indistinct spots over the whole of the body. Fins of rather darker colour than
the body, especially at their edges : caudal with some dull blue or white spots.

26 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

The specimen of Serranus erythrmus, figured in tlie "Fishes of Zanzibar" is identical with this species as
suggested by Bleeker ; also Kelaart's skin a, p. 116 of S. jmchycentrtim* which has L. r. \^%, L. tr. 22/ — , and
is the same as the large specimens of 8. leopanlus in the British Museum. S. Sonnerati, Playfair, Fish.
Zanzibar p. 3, pi. iii, fig. 1, has L. r. \fg' and 9 rows of scales between the lateral line and the base of the sixth
dorsal spine, 'it appears to be identical, as already suggested by Bleeker with his Epinephelus (Serraitus)

miltostiyma. . .

Amono-st Sir Walter Elliot's di-awings are three of this species showing variations of colour. Jerdon
(M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 129) observes that " the intensity of the red varies a good deal, and it is sometimes
marked with white spots."

Hahitat^^ast coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Ai-chipelago, and beyond. The specimen
figured is that of a female 13 inches long captured in February, 1859, at Madras, where it is not uncommon and
attains at least 3 feet in length.

30. Serranus boelang, Plate VII, fig. 2.

Sernmus hoelang, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 3US, vii, p. 6U-i ; Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Astrol. p. C57, pi. 3, fig. 4 ;
Playfair, Fish. Zanz. p. 2.

Serranus nujrofascintus, Hombr. and Jacq. Voy. Pol. Sud. Poissons, p. 30, t. 2, f. 1.

? Merous imieolor, Lienard, Nat. Hist. Soc. Maur. 1839, p. 31.

Serranus microprion, Bleeker, Amb. ii, p. 562; Giinther, Catal. i, p. IIG.

Serranus sticjmapoinus, Rich. Ich. China, p. 232.

Serranus boenacJc, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 112 (not Bloch) ; Kiier, Novara Fische, p. 21.

Epi7iephelus boelang, Bleeker, Epinephelini, p. 49.

Hpinephelus microprion, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. ii, fig. 1, and Epinephelini, p. 47 (? variety).

B. vii, D. „^T^, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. ^%, C. 17, L. r. |^, L. tr. 18/36 (C^c. pyl. 6-7, Kner).

Length of head 4/13 to 2/7, of caudal 2/11, height of body nearly 2/7 of the total length. Eyes—
diameter 1/5 of length of head, Ij diameters from end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. The maxilla
reaches to some distance behind the posterior edge of the orbit. Preopercle with its vertical limb finely serrated,
the serrations being continued along its angle and a short distance on to its horizontal border : fine serrations
upon the sub- and inter-opercles. Opercular spines strong especially the central one. Teeth — small canines in
both jaws, the outer row of teeth in the maxilla, and the inner in the mandible larger than the villiform bands
which are comparatively of small size. Fins — dorsal spines rather strong and from the third are about equal in
leno-th but not so long as the rays : pectoral a little longer than the ventral and equalling the length of the head
excludino- the snout : second anal spine much the strongest and also the longest, being equal to two-fifths of the
height of the body: soft portions of the dorsal and anal angularly rounded: caudal rounded. .SVn?es— -ctenoid
on the body, ten rows between the lateral line and the base of the sixth dorsal spine. Colours — pirrplish, with
from eight to nine vertical bands on the body not so wide as the ground colour : when freshly captured, the one
over the free portion of the tail is very dark : a dark mark behind the two upper opercular spines, and a blackish
edo-e to the dorsal, which in the soft portion of the anal and the caudal is margined with white.

S. micrcqirion, Bleeker, which may be a variety of this species has blue spots over the head and shoulders.

Eabitat — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, tkrough the seas of India to the j\Ialay Archipelago. It does
not appear to attain a large size. The one figured, life-size, came from the Andaman Islands.

Genus, 4 — Vakiola, Sivains.

Pseiidoserranus, Klunz.

Branchiostegals seven : pseudohranchiue. Body ohlong, compressed. Eyes lateral of moderate size. _ Preopercle
with its vertical limb feebly serrated, its horizontal one entire. Opercle with three spines. Teeth villiform in the jaivs,^
vomer and palate: canines present, and the inner row of teeth in both jaws moveable: some conical teeth along the rami
of the mandibles. Dorsal fin single with nine spines: anal with three: caudal deeply emarginate. Scales small,
ctenoid, none on the snuid, suborbitals, or maxilla.

SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.

1. Variola louti, D. ttj^ttt. -A- f, L- r. ^%. Vertical limb of preopercle slightly emarginate and finely
sen-ated. Caudal deeply emarginate. Red, with small darker spots on the body and most of the fins, some of
which last are edged w^th yellow. East coast of Africa, Ceylon.

1. Variola louti, Plate VII, fig. 3.

Perca louti, Forsk. p. 40.

Bodiamis louti, Bl. Schn. p. 332 ; Lacep. iv, p. 286.

* Valencieunes observes that he had only seen one specimen and that was in the Leyden Museum, 7 French inches long. His
especial reason for considering it a new species appears to be the character o£ the scales which were small and ctenoid. Those on the sides
being slightly keeled, forming about 20 horizontal rows. This aijpearance is more seen in some specimens than in others, and is not
peculiar to this species. In 1867, a Serranus diacanthxis about 18^ inches long, which was not quite fresh, was brought to me at Madras.
I had it preserved a.s a skin and dried rather too rapidly, the result being that all the rows of scales on the body show a well developed
keel. I have also seen this appearance caused in fish which have been immersed, from the first, in spirit of too great a strength.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 27

Lahrus pundaius, Lacep. iii, p. 431, pi. 17, f. 2.

Serranus louti, Rupp. Atl. p. 106, pi. 26, f. 2; Gunther, Catal. i, p. 101, and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 2, t. i,
(not Cuv. and Val.)

Serranus pundulatus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 367, is, p. 435 ; Bleeker, Sumatra, i. p. 570 ; Quoy and Gaim.
Voy. Astrol. Poissons, p. 654, pi. 3, f. 2.

Serranus phcenistomus, Swains. Fish, ii, p. 201.

Variola longipinna, Swains. Fish, ii, p. 202.

Pseudoserranus louti, Klunz. Fische d. Roth. Meer. Vorh. z. b. Ges. Wicn. 1870, p. 687.

Variola louti, Bleeker, Epinophelini, p. 11.

B. vii, D. T3?T5, P- 18, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. r. ifi. Vert. 10/14.

Leno-th of head from 2/7 to 1/4, of caudal 2/9, height of body 2/9 of the total length. Eijes — diameter
2/9 to 1/6 in the length of head, upwards of 1| diameters from the end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart.
Lower iaw prominent, the maxilla reaches to below the hind edge of the eye. Vertical limb of preopercle with
some feeble serrations at its angle, its lower limb, sub- and inter-opercles entire. Teeth — strong canines in the
upper, and weaker ones in the lower jaw : outer row of teeth in the maxilla, shorter and thicker than the
villiform band : some large teeth also present amongst the villiform ones in the mandible. Fins — dorsal spines
rather weak, the soft portion of the fin, also of the anal, elongated and pointed : pectoral as long as the head
without the snout : ventral one-third longer : second anal spine not quite so long as the third ; caudal deeply
emaro^inate and with pointed angles. Scales — ctenoid about 14 rows between the lateral-line and the base of the
first dorsal spine. Colours — red with small darker spots ever^-n-here : all the fins red, outer edge of pectoral and
soft dorsal yellowish, as is also snout and abdomen. A yeUow line along the inner edge of the two lobes of the
caudal fin.

Ilahitaf. — From the Red Sea through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. The specimen figured
is from the collection in the British Museum.

Genus, 5 — Anthias, (Bl. Schi.) Cuv. ^' Val.

Caprodon, Temm. and Schleg. : Aylopon, Callanthias, Paranthias, and Elastoma, Guichemot : Holanthias,
Gilnther.

Branchiostegals seven : pseudohranchim. Body ohlonrj, rather elongated, and compressed : preorhital of
moderate height, entire. Preopercle serrated. Opercle ivith two spines. Villiform teeth in both jaws, with canines
anteriorly, and an outer row of canine-like ones laterally : also villiform on the vomer and palate : if present on the
tongue, minute. Dorsal fin single, vnth from nine to eleven spines : anal with three : pectorals pointed : caudal rather
deeply forlced : one, or more of the fins, as a rule, having elongated rays. Scales of moderate si;e, an enlarged row
over the nape. Pyloric appendages few.

Geographical distribution, most of the seas of temperate and tropical regions.

SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.

1. Anthias multldens, D. -fj, A. f , L. 1. 52. Rosy, with lateral golden bands on the body, and two on the
head. Andamans.

1. Anthias multldens, Plate VII, fig. 4.

Mesoprion multidens. Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 680.

B. vii, D. fj, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. ^'V, C. 16, L. 1. 62, L. r. |f, L. tr. 7/17, Caec. pyl. 6.

Length of head 4/15, of caudal 1/4, height of body 1/4 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 2/7 of length
of head, Ij diameters from end of snout, and 1 apart. The distance between the eye and the angle of the
mouth equals three-fourths of the diameter of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below the first-third of the
orbit. Vertical and horizontal limbs of preopercle finely serrated, most coarsely so at its rounded and somewhat
produced angle. Opercle with two well developed spines. Seven rows of scales between the eye and the angle
of the preopercle. Teeth — villiform in the jaws, with a large canine on either side of the premaxillary, and an
outer lateral row of canine-like ones in the maxilla : likewise an outer row of canine-like teeth in the lower
jaw : villiform ones on the vomer and palate. Fins — dorsal spines slender, the fifth the longest, and nearly equal
to half the height of the body below it, the last spine upwards of two-thirds of the length of the fifth : pectoi-al
as long as the head, and reaching to above the end of the base of the anal : last dorsal, and anal rays elongated to
nearly twice as long as the one preceding each : second anal spine the strongest, the third the longest, and nearly
equal to one-third of the length of the head : caudal deeply forked, the upper lobe slightly the longer. Colours —
rosy, with about six longitudinal yellow bands along the body, and a golden one from the inferior angle of the
eye to the snout, and another across the forehead.

Habitat. — Andamans, where it is common, attaining a large size : although the number of spines, rays,
scales, and csecal pylori are the same as in Anthias oculatus, Cuv. and Val. the form of the dorsal fin difiers, as
in this species the spines do not decrease to the last.

Genus, 6 — Geammistes (Artedi) Cuvier.
Pogonoperca, Gunther.

Branchiostegals seven : pseudobranchire. Body oblong and compressed. S)iout short. Opercle and preopiercle
unserrated, but spinate. Eyes lateral. Teeth villiform in the jaivs, vomer, and palatines, no canines: tongue smooth.

E 2

28 ACAJifTHOPTERYGII.

A barbel of a more, or less, rudimentary character on the cliin. Two dorsal fins, the first with seven spines : anal
spineless. Scales mimde, adherent, and enveloped in the epidermis. Pyloric appendarjes feiv.

Geographical distribution — Red Sea, tlirougliout those of India to the Malay Archipelago, and beyond.

SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.

1. Grammistes Orientalis, Bl. Schn. D. 7 j^-^, A. 9-11. Three spinate denticulations on preopercle. Caudal
rounded. Deep brown, with from three to seven narrow white longitudinal bands, which anteriorly are continued
on to the head. Red Sea, seas of India, Malay Archipelago, and beyond.

1. Grammistes Orientalis. Plate IX, f. 1.

Grammistes Orientalis, Bl. Schn. p. 189 : Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 203, pi. 27 : Bleeker, Amboina, iv, p. 105 ;
Ganther, Catal. i. p. 171; Klunz. Fische. Roth. Meer. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien. 1870, p. 707; Bleeker, Epinephelini,
p. 129.

Perca bilineata, Thunb. Nov. Act. Hoi. xiii, p. 142, t. 5.

Bodianus sex-lineatus, Lacep. iv, pp. 285, 302.

Scicena vittata, Lacep. iv, p. 323.

Perca triacanthus et pentacanthus, Lacep. iv, pp. 398, 424.

Gentropomus sex-lineatus, Lacep. v, pp. 688, 689.

B. vii, D. 7 I T-j^T^, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. 9-11, C. 17.

Length of head 2/7 to 1/3, of pectoral 2/11, of caudal 1/5, height of body nearly 1/3 of the total length.
Eyes — diameter 2/7 to 1/4 of the length of head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. Body
oblong and elongated, sometimes with a slight concavity in the profile above the orbit : lower jaw the longei-.
The maxilla extends to below the liind edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle with three spinate
denticulations on its border, the upper being the smallest ; some indistinct ones along the lower limb. Three
spines on opercle. A rudimentary barbel on the lower jaw, which in a fresh specimen, nearly 4 inches long,
equalled half the length of the orbit. Teeth — villiform in jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — tliird dorsal spine
the longest equalling one-third of the height of the body below it : soft dorsal, anal, and caudal rounded.
Scales — imbedded in epidermis and usually covered with mucus. Colours — of a deep chestnut brown, with three
milk-white longitudinal bands, from the head along the body, the inferior ceasing opposite the posterior end of
the base of the anal fin. A white median band from the snout to the base of the dorsal fin.

In some specimens there are six or more white longitudinal lines along either side of the body. ■

Seba figm-es this fish as Grammistes, pi. 27, f. 5.

Hahitat — Seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago, and beyond, attaining only a few inches in length.
The one figured is from the Andamans, and life size.

Genus, 7 — DiPLOPRiON, (Kuhl. and v. Hass.) Guv. and Val.

Branchiostegals seven : pseudohranchics. Body oblong, compressed. Eyes lateral. Opercle spinate : prreopercle
with a double edge, the outer of which is dentictdated. Teeth villiform i7i jaws, vomer, and pialatines, no canines:
tongue smooth. Two dorsal fins, the first ivith eight spines : anal with two. Scales small, adherent. Pyloric
appendages few.

Geographical distribution. — From the seas of India to China and Japan. This fish I have not personally
captured in India, nor found it in local Indian collections ; those taken have been probably mere stragglers.
Dr. Jerdon remarks, "this pretty fish is rare at Madras." — (Madr. Journ. Lit. and Science, 1851, IJo. 39,
p. 129.)

SYNOPSIS OP INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.

1. Biploprion bifasciatum, D. 8 | 15, A. jV. Yellow with two black vertical bands. Indian seas, Malay
Archipelago to Japan.

1. Diploprion bifasciatum, Plate IX, f. 2.

(Kuhl. and v. Hass.) Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 137, pi. 21 : Tern, and Schleg. Fauna Japon. p. 2, pi. 2, f. A. :
Richards. Ich. China, p. 221 ; Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen. xxvi, p. 59 and Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. vi, 1854, p. 207
and Epinephelini, p. 124; GiJnther, Catal. i, p. 174; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 29.

Anoovah nieen, Tam.

B.vii, D. 8 I 14-15, A. rr'-T^, C. 17, L. r. ^o^lfor, L- tr. 12/-.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 2/5 of the total length. J^f/fo-— diameter 1/4 length of
head, 1^ diameters from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. The maxilla reaches to below the middle of
the orbit. Preopercle having a double edge the outer of which is serrated, the inner ridge is also stated to b(!
sometimes serrated. Approximating portions of sub- and inter-opercles seiTated. Opercle with its two uppei-
spines large, followed inferiorly by several smaller ones. Teeth — generic. Fins — third and fourth dorsal
spines the highest, and nearly equal to the length of the head behind the front edge of the orbit ; they decrease
in length to the last which is very short : anal spines also very short : caudal rounded. Colours — Gamboge
yellow with two broad black cross bands.

Habitat — Seas of India, to China and Japan.

Sir John Richardson remarks, " specimens exist in every collection of Chinese fishes, and small ones

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 29

are common in the insect boxes solrl at Canton." The one figured is from a stuffed specimen in the Liverpool
Free Museum, kindly lent me for this purpose by its curator, Mr. Moore.

Genus, 8 — Lutianus, Block.

Biacope and Mesoprion, Cuv. and Val. : Genyoroge, Cantor : Macolor, Bleeker : Proamhhjs, Hypopl'des,
Bhomhoplites, Ocyurtis, Evoplites, and Tropidinius, Gill.

Branchiostegals seven : piseudobrancldw. Body ohlovg, compressed : snout elongated, with the preorhital rather
high and entire. Preopercle serrated, with or tuithout a notch on its vertical border to receive a knob, wliich is sometimes
developed on the interopercle. Opercle rarely with one, more generally ivith two or three indistinct points. Villiform
teeth in both jaws : canines in tlie uj^per, icith smaller ones in the anterior portion of the lower jaiv, and laterally
a row of canine-like teeth : villiform teeth likewise on the vomer, and palate : ivhen present on the tongue minute.
Dorsal Jin single, with from 7iine to thirteen spines: anal with three: pectorals piointed : caudal rounded, truncated or
emarginate. Scales ctenoid, of moderate or rather small size, one or two enlarged rows over the nape. Pyloric appendages
few or absent. Air-vessel simple.

Oeographical distribution. — From the Red Sea and East coast of Africa through the seas of India, the
Malay Archipelago, and to the Pacific.

Uses. — As a rule all these fishes are good as food, though some are insipid : a few attain a large size.
They are extensively salted and dried in many localities.

Amongst the Lutiani exist variations which require notice. Thus in some, when immatiu-e (as observed
in a few Serrani), a spine exists at the angle of the preopercle : as age advances it is gi'adually absorbed, altliough
occasionally in the adult coarse serrations may indicate its prior existence. Instead of one there may be several
spinate denticulations at this spot in the fry, which also disappear, as in the case of the single spine. The
interopercular knob, in those species which possess one (^Genus Biacope, Cuv. and Val., or Genyoroge, Cantor.)
appears in two distinct modes — either as well formed from birth with a notch in the vertical border of the
preopercle — or else the knob is gradually formed, and as it increases in size it presses against the vertical border
of the preopercle causing absorption at the spot above it and thus creates a notch. Respecting the dorsal spines,
it has been remarked of the Serrani that one ray may occasionally assume the form of a spine, thus changing the
specific number (by the addition of one spine and the diminution of one ray) but this seems to be rather rare
amongst the Indian Lutiani in which, although the spines may bo increased, the rays are not usually diminished
in number : an increase in the number of the rays is, however, of more frequent occurrence than in the spines.

In colouring there is one subject that requires fiirther examination, and that is the lateral blotch : in
those species in which it is present, it is sometimes most decided in the young, but whether it frequently exists
in some specimens and is absent in others remains to be solved. That it disappears if the fresh specimen is
left soaking in water is evident : that it sometimes is all but lost in those kept in spirit is also apparent, but the
similarity of Lutianus inarginatus without a lateral blotch to specimens in which it is present is so gi'eat, that I
cannot separate them into distinct species ; the same fact has been observed by Bleeker, in L. Bengalensis
and Amboinensis. It is not a little remarkable that this mark is of a deep black colour on the Malabar
coast, in L. marginatus ; but much less apparent in specimens captured on the Coromandel coast, where
also those of an identical size without any such blotch are numerous. Age then cannot be the sole cause, which
may be sought for in locality and sex (provided they are the same species).

SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES.

1. Lutianus Sebce, D. Yi-Vo> -^^ e-^iy ^- ^'- is; ^- *■'■• 9/^^- Interopercular knob present, no lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows. Reddish* with three curved black bands. Red Sea, seas of India, to the Malay
Archipelago, and beyond.

2. Lutianus Malabaricus, D. ^, A. f , L. r. f '-, L. tr. 9/23. No interopercular 'knob. No lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral line. A violet-purple band on the back, along the base of the dorsal
fin. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

3. Lutianus erythropterus, D. t-j-Vt> -A- f, L. r. ^%, L. tr. 11-12/25. No interopercular knob. No lingual
teeth. Scales in oblique rows. Red with marks varying with age. Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay
Archipelago, and beyond.

4. Lutianus dodecacanthus, D. xi-Vr' ^- fi L. r. f|, L. tr. 8/23. No interopercular knob. No lingual
teeth. Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Scarlet. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

5. Lutianus Bengalensis, D. Yi-kr ^- f > ^- r- H'ff, L. tr. 7-8/18. An interopercular knob. No lingual
teeth. Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-lino, superiorly reaching to above the front edge of the eye.
Four blue bauds from the eye along the sides. Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

6. Lutianus fulvus, D. ii, A. f, L. r. -Jf, L. tr. 9/21. An interopercular knob. No lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Yellowish-red. Andamans, Otaheite.

7. Lutianus biguttatus, D. yt-Vj'-A- |, L. r. ff, L. tr. 6/15. A small interopercular knob. Lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Olive with two milk-white spots on the back. Seas of India,
to the Malay Archipelago.

* It is curious that from this as well as from some other species of red Imtia/ni, as L. erythropterus. L. dodecacanthas, and even
Odonionectes pmjalo, the body colour has stained the cloth in which my specimens were enveloped whilst in spirit coming from India. In
eonie white carps on the other hand, as Barbus filamentostis. and B. aruUus the fish turns of a bright red after death, whether placed in
spirit or skinned and stuffed, this colour being persistent except to incipient putrefaction, soaking in water or weak spirit and bleaching.

30 ACAXTHOPTERTGII.

8. Lntlanus h'ncoJaius, D. tJ^Vj' -^- b'u- L. r. fj, L. tr. 6-7/14. No interopercular knob. Lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique sinuous rows above the lateral-line. Body horizontally banded. Red Sea, seas of India to the
Malay Archipelago.

9. Lutiamis lemnismtns, D. fj, A. f , L. 1. 56, L. tr. 8/21. A badly developed interopercular knob. Two
wide dark horizontal bands from the eye to the caudal fin. Ceylon to the Malay Archipelago.

10. Lntianvs chriisntmiia, D. fj, A. |, L. r. fi, L. tr. 8/22. No interopercirlar knob. Lingiial teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Oblique bands from the eye, posteriorly. Nicobars to the Malay
Archipelago.

11. Lutianus rimdatus, D. \^, A. -g%, L. r. f§, L. tr. 8/19. An interopercular knob. No lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Brownish, spotted with blue : a black blotch, having a white
front edge on the lateral-line. Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago, and
beyond.

12. Lntuinnf! argentimaculakcs, D. y^.^, A. |, L. r. -J^Ift, L. tr. 7-8/16. A very slight interopercular
knob. Lingual teeth. Scales mostly in horizontal rows above lateral-line. Cheny-red, the young with narrow,
wliite, vertical bands. Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

13. Lutianus roseus, D. If, A. f , L. r. fj, L. tr. 7/18. No interopercular knob. Lin,gual teeth. Scales
in horizontal rows. Caudal fin rounded. Reddish-brown. Seas of India to the ilalay Archipelago.

14. Lut'iaiius siUaoo, D. f J: ^- Ai ^- r- tI . L- tr. 6/15. No interopercular knob. Lingual teeth. Scales
in oblique rows above lateral-line. Reddish with varying colours. Seas of India.

16. Lidianus Uoglossns, D. Tir-TT' A.. ^V, L. r. ff, L. tr. 6-7/15. A very slight interopercular knob. No
lingual teeth. Scales in oblique rows above lateral-line. Roseate shot with gold : a black lateral blotch. Red
Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

16. Lnfianus jahnrjarah, D. ■j-j^'h-, A. s, L. r. if, L. tr. 6/13. No interopercular knob. No lingual teeth.
Scales in horizontal rows. Reddish with varying coloui-s. Seas of India.

17. Lutianus quinrpielineatus, D. y^.^, A. ^^-j-, L. r. ff}, L. tr. 8/21. No interopercular knob. Lingual
teeth. Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. About six blue bands from the eye along the body : a
black lateral blotch. Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

18. Lutianus Immlatus, D. tt-tt- -^^ 8?9) L. r. f|, L. tr. 7/21. No interojiercular knob. Lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Reddish-crimson, a lunated black band on the caudal tin. Coast
of India to the Malay Archipelago.

19. Lutianus fulviflamvia, D. ttt-tt. A- f. L- r. ff, L. tr. 7-8/16. No interopercular knob. Lingual
teeth. Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Golden with a black lateral blotch ; and in the varietj-
Ixnssellii also oblique golden bands from the eye along the body. Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India
to the Malay Archipelago and be3-ond.

20. Lutianus Johnii, D. -ri-T*' A. -j^j, L. r. fj, L. tr. 7/13. A very indistinct interopercular tuberosity.
Lingual teeth. Scales in horizontal rows. Golden with a black lateral blotch. Seas of India to the Malay
Archipelago and beyond.

21. Lutianus fjihhus, D. if, A. -j'^, L. r. |^, L. tr. 8/23. A strong interopercular knob. No lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Crimson in the adult. In the young a black band covers the end
of the dorsal tin, the last half of the free portion of the tail, and the whole of the caudal. Red Sea, Andamans
to the Malay Archipelago.

22. Lutianus holiar, D. if, A. f, L. r. fl, L. tr. 7/18. A small interopercular knob. Lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Brownish with two milk-white spots, one below the spinous, the
other below the soft portion, of the dorsal fin. Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

23. Lutianus marginatus, D. yi-T*. -A-. |, L. r. f|, L. tr. 6-7/15. A strong interopercular knob. No
lingual teeth. Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Purplish-yellow, fins darker, edged with white.
A black lateral blotch may be present, or absent. East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Slalay Archipelago.

24. Lutianus yajiiUi, D. -fj^ A. |, L. r. >-f, L. tr. 6/14. No interopercular knob. Scales in horizontal
rows. Caudal fin rounded. Silvery-grey, with yellow bands. Coromandel coast of India.

25. Lutianus quinquelinearis,'!). -ri-'ra^ A. ■j?^, L. r. fj, L. tr. 8/19. A strong interopercular knob. No
lingual teeth. Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Five blue bands from the eye along the body : a
black lateral blotch. Seas of India to the ilalay Archipelago.

26. Lutianus vitta, D. fj, A. |, L. r. ^1^%, L. tr. 8/12. No interopercular knob. Lingual teeth. Scales
in oblique sinuous rows above the lateral-line! Yellowish-red with olive stripes. Seas of India to the Malay
Archipelago.

27. Lutianus Madras, D. yi-TT' A. -g'^, L. r. f|, L. tr. 6/16. No interopercular knob. Lingual teeth.
Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Roseate with olive or reddish lines following the rows of scales.
East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

28. Lutianus decussatus, D. tt'tt- ^- h L. r. ^^", L. tr. 6-7/17. A slight interopercular swelling. No
lingual teeth. Scales in oblique rows above the lateral-line. Six blackish longitudinal bands, and six more
vertical ones cross them from the back. A black blotch at the base of the caudal tin. Seas of India to the
Malay Archipelago and beyond.

1. Lutianus Setae, Plate IX, fig. 3.
Perca, Seba, iii, pi. 27, f. 2.
Sjiarus botlavoo chanipah, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 77, pi. 99.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 31

Biacope Selce, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 411 ; Klunz. Fisclie Roth. Meer. Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien. 1870, p. C9-2.

Diacope Siamensis, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 52-i.

Mesoprion Sebce, Bleeker, Perc. p. 4.5 ; Kner. Novara Fisclie. p. 30.

Genyoroge sebrp, Guntlier, Catal. p. 176.

Lutjanus Sebre, Bleeker, Siam. p. 17-3, and Lutjani, p. 53.

Veri-mit-ta-laij, or Nai-Jcerruchi, " smelling like a dog," Tam.

B. vii, D. Tf Wi P- 17, V. 1/5, A. ^^\^, C. 17, L. 1. 50-55, L. r. f |, L. tr. 9/22 : Csec. pyl. 4-5,
Vert. 10/14.

Length of head 4/13 to 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 2/5 of the total length. J5)/es— diameter 2/7
of length of head, 1 J diameters from end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. The distance from the eye to the
upper edge of the maxilla equals one-foui-th of the diameter of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below the middle
of the eye. Both the vertical and horizontal limbs of the preopei-cle serrated, the foi-mer having a deep emargination
in the adult to receive a well developed iuteropercular knob which in the young is not so distinct. Teeth —
canines m the premaxillaries, an outer I'Ow of curved canine-lLke teeth in the jaws : villiform in a ^-shape in the
vomer, and in a band on the palate, none on the tongue. Fins — third dorsal spine the longest, rather above half
the length of the head, from thence they decrease to the last but one : soft portion of the fin and also of the
anal, elevated and pointed, much higher than long at its base. Pectoral nearly as long as the head. Third anal
spine somewhat the longest and nearly equal to the post-orbital portion of the head. Scales — in oblique rows
above the lateral-line and horizontal ones below it : superiorly they reach to above the hind edge of the orbit :
caudal emarginate. Colours — reddish, a black band passes from before the dorsal fin, through the eye to the
snout : a second from the second to the sixth dorsal spines to the ventral fin : a third from the soft dorsal,
curving downwards to the lower half of the caudal : ventrals and lower half of anal black.

Bleeker observes that he possesses a very young specimen (35'" long) in which the soft dorsal and anal
are more romided, and in colour it appears as if it were brownish, traversed by two narrow white bands.

Habitat. — From the Red Sea, and East coast of Africa, through the seas of India to the Malay
Archipelago. Longest specimen captured at Madras 8 inches.

2. Lutianus Malabaricus, Plate IX, fig. 4.

Sparus Malalarieus, Bl. Schn. p. 278.

Mesoprion Malabaricus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 480.

Mesoprion Malabaricus, Bleeker, Sumatra, iii, p. 3, and Giinther, Catal. i, p. 204 (not spion3Tn.)

Lutjanus Malabaricus, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xv, fig. 1, and Lutjani, p. 50 (not synonym.)

B. vii, D. ii, P- 17, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 55, L. r. f f, L. tr. 9/23. «

Length of head 2/7, of caudal nearly 1/6, height of body 4/11 of the total length. Eijes — diameter 1/4
of length of head, 1^ diameters from the end of snoiit, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Form of the body not so
compressed as in L. erythropterus, its width being equal to two-fifths its height : a slight concavity over the
orbits : lower jaw the longer : height of preorbital equals 4/5 of diameter of eye. The maxilla reaches to below
the first third of the orbit. Preopercle with a very shallow emargination on its vertical border which is finely
serrated ; at its angle the sen-ations become larger, whilst four or five of diminished size exist along the
posterior half of the lower limb. Teeth — two or three rather strong curved canines on either side of the
premaxUlaries ; an outer row of cm'ved conical canine-like teeth in either jaw : villiform ones in a ^-shape on
the vomer, a broad band on the palatines, none on the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines moderately strong, from the
third they are of about equal length but shorter than the rays, the third spine equals about one-third of the length
of the head ; the last spine equals one diameter of the orbit : the seventh or eighth ray is the longest, and equals
four-fifths of the extent of the base of the fin, soft dorsal and anal both somewhat angularly rounded and of the
same height. Pectoral longer than the ventral, almost as long as the head and reaching to above the anal
spines : second and third anal spines of about equal strength, the latter slightly the longer and nearly equalling
the thu'd of the dorsal fin : the foui-th ray is the longest, slightly exceeding the highest in the dorsal fin : caudal
slightly emarginate. Scales — rows not tortuous, those above the lateral-line oblique, as are also those below it
above the level of the lower edge of the orbit, below which they are horizontal : two broad rows over the nape,
and eight across the cheek : they extend along the back as far as to a level with the hind edge of the eye.
Colours — having a roseate tinge in life with narrow oblique yellow streaks above the lateral-line, and longitudinal
ones below it : a longitudinal violet-purple band passes from behind the eye along the base of the dorsal fin
opposite the end of which it is interrupted by a light band over the commencement of the tail, subsequently it
reappears in a lighter form across the middle of the free portion of the taU. Fins reddish, the dorsal and caudal
with a fine black edge : anal spines dark grey, those of ventrals white.

Schneider's type specimen is stUl in good preservation at Berlin, and identical with the one figured which
I took (a little over 8 inches in length) off the 'Meckran coast. It is closely allied to L. erythropterus ; but the
dorsal spines are much lower, the eye and the colours &c. differ.

Valenciennes remarks that as Bloch received his specimen from the Coromandel coast of India it is
difficult to perceive why Schneider gave to it the term Malabaricus. The reason is that Tranquebar (from
whence it came) and the southern portions of the Coromandel coast were then termed ' Malabar,' and to this
day the natives of Madras call those residing to the south ' Malabars.'

Habitat. — Coasts of Sind and India.

32 ACAIs^^THOPTERYGII.

3. Lutianus erythropterus, Plate X, figs. 1 (j-omig), 2 (adult).

Lutianus erytliroj-'terus, Bl. t. 249 ; Bl. Schn. p. 325 (not Bleeker).

Spams chirtah, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 74, pi. 93.

Diacope ammlaris, Rupp. Atl. p. 91, and N. W. Fisehe, p. 74, pi. 93 ; Klunz. Fische Roth. Meer. Verh.
z. b. Ges. in Wien. 1870, p. 697.

? Biacope enjthrina, Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 92, t. 25, f. 3; Klunz. Fische Roth. Meer. Verh. z. b. Ges. in
Wien. 1870, p. 702.

Biacope sanguinea, (Ehren.) Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 437 (adult).

Mesoprion riihelhis, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 475.

Mesoprion erythropterus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 478.

Mesoprion ammlaris, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 488, and iii, p. 497 : Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Astr. p. 666, pi. 5,
fig. 4 ; Richards. Ich. China, p. 229 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 67 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 14 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 204 ;
Kjier. Novara Fische, p. 33.

Biacope metaUicus, (Kuhl. and v. Hass.) Bleeker, Batav. p. 525.
" Mesoprion sanguineus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 48.

Mesoprion eri/'thrinus, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 192 ; Playfair, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1807, p. 849.
. Mesoprion chirtah. Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1868, p. 150, and 1869, p. 297.

LuijAnus annularis, Bleeker, Obi. p. 240.

Lutjanus chirtah, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. sxiii, fig. 1, and Lutjani, p. 42.

Soosta, Ooriah.

B. vii, D. ri-TT, P- 1'', V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 52-55, L. r. ig, L. tr. 11-12/25, Csec. pyl. 5-6, Vert. 10/14.

Length of head 3f to 3|, of caudal 1/5 to 1/6, height of body fi-om_2| to 3^ in the total length. Eyes—
diameter 1/5 to 1/6 of the length of the head in the adult, but much larger in the young,* Ii to 2 diameters from
end of snout, and Ij to Ii apart. Body compressed, dorsal profile more convex than that of the abdomen, and
slightly concave about the orbit. The maxilla, in the adult, scarcely reaches to below the front edge of the
orbit. Preopercle with a very shallow emargination on its vertical limb which is finely and evenly serrated to
above its angle where the serrations become coarser, they extend for a short distance along its horizontal border :
sometimes a very small interopercular knob exists. Teeth — one or two canines on either side of the premaxiUary,
an outer row of cui'ved canine-like teeth in either jaw, villifonn ones in a triangular patch on the vomer, and in
a rather naiTOW band on the palatines : none on the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength increasing
in length to the fom-th which equals two-fifths to one-tliii-d of the height of the body, from it to the
last they are slightly lower and sub-equal in length, the soft portion of the fin more angular in the adult
than in the young, the seventh to the tenth rays being the highest, half as long again as the fourth spine, and
their height equalling the length of the base of the soft portion of the fin. Pectoral reaching as far as the
ventral, and equalling the length of the head behind the posterior nostril : ventral spine as long as the fourth of
the dorsal fin : second anal spine somewhat the strongest, but not quite so long as the third which equals the
third of the dorsal fin : caudal slightly emarginate or cut square in the young. Scales — in somewhat tortuous
rows going in a dii'ection upwards and backwards, they extend over the base of the dorsal fin reaching highest
on the I'ays, they are equally developed over the bases of the caudal and anal. Colours — crimson with orange
reflections : a broad blackish band passes fi-om the eye to the commencement of the dorsal spines, and is
sometimes slightly apparent along the whole base of the fin : eight to twelve narrow and nearly horizontal black
lines exist below the lateral-line, and several more above it, some being the continuations of those which
commence below the lateral-line. A black band crosses the back over the fi-ee portion of the tail, having a white
one before it, and a narrow pink one posterior to it. Pectoral flesh-coloured : ventral either black or stained
black in its outer half or two-thirds : dorsal dark grey in some specimens with a nearly black base and a black
edge : caudal pink with a narrow black border : anal darkest anteriorly. Li adults (12 inches) the black lines
disappear, and each row of scales has a golden line : a trace exists of the band from the eye to the dorsal fin :
whilst that over the free portion of the tail is somewhat indistinct.

Amongst Bloch's typical collection in the Berlin Museum, Professor Peters showed me two of this species,
one being young with the distinct colours of the annularis; the other more adult. Bleeker considers the
erythrojyterus of Bloch to be identical with L. lineolatus, and certainly the body and fins in the figui-e appear more
to resemble that species than the present : the head, (especially the eyes,) difi'ers considerably from the lineolatus.
The type specimens have their original names upon them.

Although Ruppell's figure of Biacope erythrina very closely resembles an adult of this species, he states
it to have only 10 dorsal spines. Col. Playfair obtained a " fine specimen" now in the British llusenm, termed
erythrinus, which is the adult of this species, but it has 11 dorsal spines, it is nearly 18 inches long, and the eye
is 5| in the length of the head.

In the Berlin Museum is a fine specim.en (21 inches in length) of Biacope sanguinea, (Ehren.) Cuv. and

* The following are the measurements as to the size of the eye compared with the length of the head in specimens of various ages:
At 6 inches in length, 3J in the length of the head.
„ "a )j )' j» ^2 »i " '» '»
„ i '■ j» ,, ,1 'Ji ij )» )i n

„ lo ,, ,, ,, 2 ,, » J, ,1

)) 21 „ „ „ 1/6 ,, ,, „ ,,

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 33

Val. type of the species. It appears identical with this fish. Length of head y, of caudal -}, height of body
nearly J of the total length. Eyes — diameter 5| in the length of the head, 2 diameters from end of snout, and
li apart. Fins — fourth and fifth dorsal spines of equal height, and 2f in the length of the head.

The type specimen of Mesoprion rubelius, C. V., in the Paris Museum is a sMn ft-om Pondicherry of this
species, its scales are L. r. 67, L. tr. 12/25.

Eabifat. — Red Sea, East coast of Afi-ica, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. It is
captured all the year round at Madras, but is most abundant during the cold months when its fry are also about.
Fig. 1 is from a specimen 6 inches in length, and represents the immature fish : Pig. 2, or the mature fish is
from a specimen a little over 12 inches long. Both are from Madras.

4. Lutianus dodecacanthus, Plate X, Fig. 3..

MesojJrion Malabaricus, Bleeker, Sumatra, v, p. 497 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 204 (not Bloch, Schn.)

Ltdjan-us dodecacanthus, Bleeker, Amb. ii, p. 278 and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxiv, f. 2.

Mesoprion. dodecacanthus, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 20(5.

Lutjanus Malaharicus, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. Ixxv, fig. 1 and Lutjani, p. 50 (in part).

B. vii, D. H:'«'. P- 17, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 52, L. r. ff, L- tr- 8/23-

Length of head 3^, of caudal 1/5, height of body SJ of the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/4 of length
of head, 1^ diameters fi'om end of snout, and nearly 1 apart. Body compressed, profile above the orbit some-
what concave : the distance between the eye and the upper edge of the maxilla equals a little more than one
diameter of the orbit. The maxilla extends to beneath the front edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preoperele
having a shallow emargination, the whole being finely serrated superiorly, but more coarsely so at its angle :
lower limb finely serrated in its anterior half. A small interopercular knob. Teetli — a pair of moderately sized,
curved canines in the premaxillai-ies, and having two smaller intermediate ones : an outer row of curved, canine-
like teeth in both jaws, largest in the mandible, especially about its centre : none on the tongue. Villiibrm
ones in a A-form on the vomer, and in a band on the palatines. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the
fourth and fifth the longest, and equal to 3j in the height of the body, they gradually decrease to the last,
which is only two-thirds as long as the fourth : the soft portion of the dorsal angular, and one-fifth higher
than its base is long. Pectoral reaches to above the anal spines, and is as long as the head : ventral just
I'eaches the vent. Second anal spine not qrute so long as the third, which equals the longest in the dorsal fin :
its soft portion angular, one-fourth higher than the length of its entire base : caudal slightly emarginate.
Scales — in oblique, straight (not sinuous) rows above the lateral line, and also as low as a level with the eye,
below which all are horizontal : twelve rows between the occiput and base of the dorsal fin, and six across
the cheeks. Colours — uniform scarlet, with a golden line along each row of scales and a nacreous spot across
the free portion of the tail just beliind the base of the dorsal fin. A na,iT0w black edge to the dorsal, caudal,
and anal fins.

This species seems to be identical with Bleeker's : he observes that three of his specimens have twelve
dorsal spines, but which appears to be due to the transformation of the first ray into a weak spine.

There are two fine specimens in the British Museiun, one about IG inches in length, wherein the eye is
2 diameters fi-om the end of the snout : the other is 15 inches long, the diameter of the eye 1/4 of the length
of the head, and H diameters from the end of the snout.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. The specimen figftred is 14| laches in length and
from Madras.

5. Lutiantis Beagalensis, Plate X, Fig. 4.

? Scicena Jcasmira, Forsk. p. 4(1

Eolocentrtis Bengalensis, Bloch, t. 246, fig. 2 ; Bl. Scbn. p. 316 ; Lacep. Iv, p. 330.
Perca polyzouias, Forst. Mss. p. 225.

Biacope ocfolineata, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 418, vi, p. 626 (in part) ; Riippell, Atl. p. 75 ; Tem. & Schleg.
Fauna Japon. p. 12, t. vi, f. 2 ; Richards. Ich. Ghuia, p. 229.

Diaeope octovittata, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 528. *

Mesopirion pomacanthus, Bleeker, Amb. p. 407 (in part) ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 210.

Genyorocje Bengalensis, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 178 (in part.)

Genyorocje octovittata, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 180.

Evoplites pomacantlms. Gill, Cuban Fish, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1862, p. 234.

Genyoroge Amboinensis, Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 679.

Biacope kasmira, Klunz. Fische d. R. M. Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 695.

lAiijanus Bengalensis, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxiv, f. 3 and Lutjani, p- 34.

Veri-heechan, Tam.

B. vii, D. yi-Vr,* P- 16, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 48, L. r. |f:§§, L. tr. 7-8/18, Ciec. pyl. 0.

Length of head from 2/7 to 4/15, of caudal 1/5, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Eyes — diameter
from 1/4 to 2/9 of the length of head, Ij diameters from the end of snout, and 3/4 apart. The distance from
the eye to the upper border of the maxilla equals half the diameter of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below
the middle of the orbit. Vertical limb of preoperele with a moderately deep notch above its rounded angle,

* Bleeker has found the following amongst specimens of this species : D. 175 ir-g- or 10 | -j-j-tt or ti-Vs" or II | ts-tt-

34 ACA^'THOPTERYGII.

superiorly it is finely serrated, but very coarsely so at its angle, some serrations are also continued along its
lower limb. Interopercular knob distinct. Teeth — moderate-sized canines in the premaxillaries, an outer row
of curved conical teetli in either jaw : villiforin ones in a A-fc>i"m on the vomer, in a l)and on the palatines, but
none on the tonone. Fins — dorsal spines rather strong, the fourth tlie longest and one-fourth liigher than the
rays : soft portion of the fin rounded, half as high as its base is long. Pectoral as long as the head and reaching
to above the adal spines : ventral does not reach the vent. Second anal spine stronger and usually rather longer
than the third (it is sometimes slightly shorter), which equals the length of the postorbital portion of the head,
anterior rays the highest and as long as the entire base of the fin, its lower edge slightly convex : caudal
emaro-inate. Scales — in oblique rows above the lateral-line and in horizontal ones below it : six or eight rows
across the cheeks, whilst superiorly they extend as far forwards as to above the front edge of the eye : none
on the preorbital, except in large specimens, but I possess one nine inches long that has several rows there.
Colours — yellowisli-brown superiorly becoming yellowish-white inferiorly. Four bright blue black-edged and
slightly sinuous bands pass from the orbit across the opercles, the superior to about the ninth dorsal spme, the
second to the fourth dorsal ray, the third to behind the last dorsal ray, and the fourth to rather below the
centre of the base of the caudal. Fins yellowish, the dorsal with a dark edge and a light outer margin.

Bleeker observes that three species have the upper surface of the head scaled, the vomerine teeth in a
j\^-form, a deep preopercular emarginatiou and an edentulous tongue. They are as follows, and may be thus
divided for convenience sake : —

■ Lutiaims Bencjalensis, D. i^:f|, L. r. A^lf^, L. tr. 8-9/20-21, Crec. pyl. 0.

Lutianus qtdnquelinearis, D. xy-rei L. r. ff:|-g, L. tr. G-7/18-19, Csec. pyl. 5.

Lutimms Amhoinensis, D. iflH- L. r. f|, L. tr. 7-8/17-18, Case. pyl. ?.

Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 182, briefly desci-ibes a fish as JJiacope spilura, from Ceylon : D. W, A. |.
Five parallel red lines on either side ; the second and third go from the eye, the fourth from the axilla, the fifth
from the angle of the month : a large black spot before the base of the caudal fin : spinous portion of the
dorsal with a black base and outer edge. It is stated to be affined to B. octolineata.

Specimens under the name of Genyoroge notata, in the British Museum, have D. ii, A. |, L. r. ^^°,
L. tr. 9/. Eyes — diameter 3^ in the length of the head. 1 diameter from the end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter
apart. Scales over suborbital, and a few on preorbital. The second anal spine eqtials half the length of the
head. They are coloured as in this species.

Eah'itat. — Red Sea, seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago, and beyond ; it attains at least 10 inches in
length.

6. Lutianus fulvus, Plate X, fig. 5.

Tercafidva, Forst. Mss. p. 193.
nolocentms fidvus, Bl. Sclin. p. 318.
Liacope fulva, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 43-5.
Genyoroge fulva, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 184.

B. vii, D. H. P- 17, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 51, L. r. if, L. tr. 9/21.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 2/11, height of body 3/10 of the total lengtli. Eyes— Aiameter _3§
of the length of head, 1\ diameters from the end of snout, and .3/4 of a diameter apart. A considerable rise
from the • snout to the commencement of the dorsal fin : abdominal profile not so convex as that of the back ;
thickness of body equal to 4/7 of its height. The maxilla reaches to below the front fourth of the orbit.
Vertical limb of preopercle with a very deep emarginatiou and a produced rounded angle, above the notch the
limb is serrated, on the angle it becomes almost spinate, whilst a few fine serrations exist on the lower Umb.
Interopercular knob very well developed in a pyramidal form. Teeth — small curved canines in the upper ja-\\-,
an outer rather numerous row of canine-like curved teeth in either jaw, villiform ones in a triangular spot on
the vomer, in a baud on the palatines, none on the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines strong, increasing in length tc;
the fourth, which equals that of the postorbital portion of the head, or 2f in the height of body, from it they
decrease to the last, which is scarcely above two-thii-ds as high : the soft portion of the fin rounded, the height
of the rays being equal to about "two-thii-ds of the highest spine. Pectoral as long as the head, reaching to
above the anal spines. Second anal spine much the strongest, third slightly the longest, equalling the second of
the dorsal fin, height of the longest rays a little more than that of its entire base : caudal emarginate. Scales —
in oblique rows above t];e lateral-line and in horizontal ones below it. Gchurs — uniform yellowish-red with a
dark spot in the axil : fins yellow : the upper third of the dorsal black with a white margin : caudal also with
a black edge and white margin : a dark black mark across the middle of the first third of the anal.

Eahitut. — Andamans, Otaheiti. The specimen figured is upwards of lO inches in length.

7. Lutianus biguttatus, Plate X, fig. (3.

Serrarms lignttatns, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 507; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 155.
Mesojmon Imeolatus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 4G (not Ruppcll.)
Mesoprion Bleeheri, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 2U8.
Lutjanus Bleeheri, Bleeker, Halmah. i, p. 155.
Lntjaims liguttatus, Bleeker, Lutjani, p. 32.

B. vii, D. t-,^Vt> P- 16, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. r. f[, L. tr, C/15.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 35

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/7, height of body 1/4 to 2/9 of the total length. iJ^es— diameter 3/10
to 2/7 of length of head, 1 diameter from the end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Body elongated, its
dorsal and abdominal profiles nearly horizontal. The maxilla reaches to below the first thii-d of the orbit :
iuterorbital space flat. Vertical limb of preopercle with a moderately deep emargination to receive a very
badly developed interopercular knob, its angle roimded, the whole limb finely serrated, and the lower Hmb
almost entire. Two small sharp points on the operole. Teeth — ^villiform in the jaws, with a large canine on
either side of the preniaxillary, between whicli are two smaller curved caniae-like teeth in the outer row, and
several more similar ones along the upper jaw : in the lower jaw exists an outer row of curved, canine-like
teeth, becoming larger posteriorly : in a triangular spot of vUliform ones on the vomer, the base being behind,
and ii-om the centre of which a narrow band passes a short way backwards : those on the palatines in a naiTow
line : an oblong patch on the tongue. Fins — spines weak, those of the dorsal increase in length to the third
and fourth, which are half as long as the head, fi'om these they decrease to the last : soft portion of the fin, (as
is also that of the anal,) rounded and not half so high as the spines, the longest ray equalling two-thirds the
lenoth of the base of the fin. Pectoral extends rather beyond the ventral, but hardly to above the anal, it is two-
thirds as Ion"- as the head : tliird anal spine rather the longest, equal to the diameter of the orbit but not so long
as the rays, anterior anal rays one-third liigher than those of the dorsal, last anal ray as short as the spine, lower
edo'e of fin strait^ht : caudal slightly emarginate. Scales — in parallel rows below and oblique ones above the lateral
line. Colours — yellowish-gi'oy superiorly, becoming yellowish-white on the sides and abdomen, a broad black
band passes from the eye to the middle of the caudal fin, dividing the dark back from the light sides, and a
second band is continued from below the jaws to above the posterior end of the base of the anal, where it
Ijecomes indistinct. A white pearly spot exists on the back under the middle of the spinous dorsal, and a
second under the commencement of the rayed portion of the fin.

Professor Peters showed me one of this species, nearly 4 inches in length, received from Paris as
Serranus hignUatus, and I subsequently saw several more of the types in the Paris Museum.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. The type specimen of Cuv. and Val. came from
Ceylon, the one figured (7| inches in length) I procured at the Andaman islands.

8. Lutianus lineolatus, Plate XI, fig. 1 and 2.

Perca karooi, Ru.ssell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 19, pi. 12.5.

Diacope lineolata, Riipp. Atl. Fische, p. 7(5, t. 19, f. 3 ; Klunz. Verb. z. b. Ges. in Wien. 1870, p. 698.

Serranus nouleny, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 247; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 12G. '

Mesoprion caroid, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 489 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 16.

Mesoprion xanthoj^teri/gi us, Bleeker, Perc. p. 46.

Mesopnon lineolata. Meeker, Perc. p. 46 (not syn.) ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 20-5 ; Kner. Novara Fische,
p. 36 ; Playfair, Zanz. p. 17.

Mesoprion erythropterus, Bleeker, Perc. 47 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 20-5 (not Bloch.)

Mesoprion dodecathantlioldes, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 206 (not Bleeker.)

Lutjanus erythropterus, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xx, fig. 2, and Lutjani, p. 29 (not Bloch.)

Nooleni, Tarn.

B. vii, D. tJ.Vj, p. 16, V. 1/5, A. -jV, C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. r. f|-, L. tr. 6-7/14, Ctec. pyl. 4.

Length of head 2/7 to 3/11, of caudal 1/6, height of body 2/7 to 4/15 of the total length. Eyes-
diameter 1/3 to 2/7 of length of head 3/4 of a cbameter from end of snout and also apart. The depth of the
cheek from the eye to the maxillary bone equals two-tliirds of that of the maxillary bone. The maxilla reaches
to below the middle of the orbit. Vertical limb of the preopercle with a slightly produced angle and almost
horizontal lower limb, its vertical limb finely serrated, more coarsely so at its angle, the serrations being
continued along the posterior half of its lower limb : opercle with two points, the lower being the most distinct.
No interopercular knob. Teeth — canines in the premaxillaries and an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in
both jaws : villiform ones in a triangular patch, having a posterior median elongation in the vomer, and in a
narrow band on the palatines ; an oblong patch widest anteriorly of very fine teeth on the tongue. Fins — dorsal
spines moderately strong, the third to the fifth being the longest and nearly equal to half the length of the head,
from thence they decrease to the last which is about two-thirds of their height and equal to that of the rays.
Pectoral pointed, nearly as long as the head, and reaching to above the anal spines : second anal spine the
strongest and nearly equal to the length of the third or to the postorbital portion of the head, anal rays one-fourth
higher than those of the dorsal fin. Scales — in obUque sinuous rows above the lateral-line to opposite the end
of the soft dorsal fin where they become horizontal, as are also those below the lateral-line : on the
summit of the head the scales extend forwards to above the anterior tlurd of the eye. Colours — pui-plish-red
along the back, becoming more yellow below the lateral-line. In the upper third of the body there are oblique
and in places sinuous golden lines along each row of scales, whilst below the lateral-line there are bands of dark
pink, one passes along the first-third of the lateral-line and for the depth of lialf a scale below it : next is a golden
band, one scale deep, ending on the lateral-line beneath the middle of the soft dorsal : below this is a rather
wider reddish band passing from the eye to the lateral-line below the end of the soft dorsal : next follows a
yellow band one scale deep going to the middle of the tail. Below this the fish is longitudinally banded with
pink and j'ellow alternately. Fins yellow, vrith a light band, along the centre of the dorsal.

Jerdon observed, (M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 129) " I am jnclLucd to think that Russell's figure (125

F 2

30 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

nouleni) is intended for this fish and not for a species of Mesopnon (? Sernmns) to which Cuvier refers it ■without
however having seen a specimen. His account of the colour corresponds exactly with that of the nouleni of
Madras. It is a very beautiful fish but one of very soft and flabby texture." The figure of nouleni is
amongst Sir W. Elliot's drawings (No. 15), and to it Jerdon has attached the name of Serranus nouleni.
Irrespective of this he sent a specimen to the British Mu.semn where it still exists, and is placed in the catalogue
(i, p. 200) as Mesoprion dudecacanthoides, a. Half-gi-own ; not good state. Madras. Presented by J. C.
Jerdon, Esq.

In the unrivalled Paris collection, Cuv. and Val.'s two specimens of Serranns nouleni, C. V. still exist
and are, as suggested by Jerdon, identical with the species dcsciibed alsove.

Bleeker first pointed out that the lineolata Riippell and Russell's karooi are identical. I have figured both
varieties owing to the great difl^erence I observed in their colouration, the size of the eye, &c. Fig. 1 is from
the coast of Sind (7i inches in length) and its tints resemble those shown by Ruppell : fig. 2 is from Madras
(7 inches long) and its colours are as described by Russell.

In the ' Fishes of Zanzibar,' three varieties are recorded, (1) j-ellow witli pale blue streaks above the
lateral-line, and about seven below it : (2) olive-brown with the lines darker blue : (3) \-iolet above, muzzle
rosy, the oblique and longitudinal lines yellow. The form, however, with blue streaks has a well-developed
interopercular knob, and can hardly be considered as a mere variety of this species.

Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. It is very common ofl'
Madras.

9. Lutianus lemniscatus.

Serranus lemniscatus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 240; Giinther, Catal. i, p. I5.'>.

Lntjanus melanotcema, Bleeker, Obi, p. 24-5, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. vii, tig. 2, and Lutjaiii, p. 66.

B. vii, D. f2, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 5G, L. tr. 8/21.

Length of head 3/10, of caudal 4/21, height of body 4/13 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/4 of
length of head, I3 diameters from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Dorsal profile more convex than
that of the abdomen, and slightly concave between the snout and the eye. The maxilla reaches to below the
front edge of the eye. Vertical limb of preopercle serrated and with a shallow emargination : interopercle
with a badly developed knob. Teeth — canines large in the upper jaw. Fins — dorsal spines rather strong,
increasing in length to the fourth which equals the postorbital length of the head, and a little higher than the
rays : pectoral not quite so long as the head : the second and third anal spines of about the same length and
equal to the tliird of the dorsal fin : caudal emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows above the lateral-line, and
horizontal ones below it. Colours —appear to have been dark red or yellow, with a wide brown or black band
going from the eye to the centre of the caudal fin, and another less defined and narrow one below it but
parallel to it. The above description is from Valenciennes specimen in the Paris Museum, which is in a good
state of preservation. It was obtained from Ceylon.

Habitat. — Ceylon to the Malay Archipelago.

10. Lutianus chrysotaBiiia, Plate XI, fig. 3.
Mesoprimi chrysotmnia, Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. ii, 1851, p. 170, and Act. Soc. Ned. Ind. Manado,
i, p. 40 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 192 ; Kner. Novara Fische, p. 34.

Ltifjanas chrysotn-nia, Bleeker, Ternate, p. 233, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxiv, fig. 4, and Lutjani, p. 22.

B. vii, D. i?-, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 52, L. r. -ff, L. tr. 8/22.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 4/13 to 2/7 of the total length. Eyes—diameter 4/15

of length of head, IJ diameters fi-om end of snout, and 1 apart. Abdominal jjrofile nearly horizontal, that of the

dorsal more convex, l>ut from the orbit to the nape it is straight, or slightly concave : snout pointed : jaws of

nearly equal length anteriorly : preorbital under the front third of tlie eye equals three-foui'ths of the diameter

of the orbit in height. The maxilla reaches to below the anterior third of the orbit. Vertical limb of

preopercle having a very shallow emargination, its angle rounded but not produced, both limbs finely serrated.

No interopercular knob. Opercular points indistinct. Teeth— a pair of large curved canines in the premaxillaries,

an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in the upper jaw more closely set but smaller than one which is present

in the lower jaw : villiform teeth on vomer in a T-form (or a lanceolate patch, Bleeker) : in a band on the palate :

and in an oblong patch, rather largest anteriorly, on the tongue. Fiws— dorsal spines weak, increasing in length

to the third which eqtials that of the postorbital portion of the head, from thence they decrease to the last, which

is two-thirds in the same distance : soft portion of the fin rounded, the highest ray equals two-fifths of the length

of its base and is much lower than the spinous portion. Pectoral pointed, as long as the head, posterior to the

hind nostril and reaching to nearly above the anal spines : ventral reaches two-thirds of the distance at the anal :

second anal spine strongest but scarcely so long as the third which equals Ijdiameters of the orbit in length, its

first rays highest and are as long as the base of the entire fin, its lower edge rounded, caudal emarginate. Scales

— in oijlique rows above the lateral-line, and in horizontal ones below it : nine toten rows across the cheek.

Colours — olive-gi-een with a dark band passing from the upper edge of the eye to the end of the spinous dorsal :

a second through the upper fourth of the eye to the last few dorsal rays, and a third from the centre of the eye

to the upper half of the base of the caudal fin and having a golden band below it, inferior to wluch is another dark

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 37

horizontal band, and tlie abdomen beneatb it golden : a deep black spot in the axil of the pectoral. Fins golden,
a light edge along the upper margin of the spinous dorsal and fii-st five or six rajs : caudal with a darkish edge.
Bleeker gives the colour of the body as greenish, with eight or more yellow sinning bands somewhat oblique
above the lateral-line and horizontal below it, also some yellow spots on the head.

The specimen I have figured is very different in coloui-ation from Dr. Bleeker's tj-]3e, but the proportions
of the fish are the same, as well as the direction of the bands, which however are darker in colour, and widt-r.
The description I have given is that of my specimen.

In the British Museum there is a very interesting specimen, 4 inches long, taken at Amboina, and received
from !Mr. Franks, as Mesojmon chrijsotmnia, young. It is of the same colour as the one I have figured, except that
it has a black blotch on the lateral-line fi-om the '22nd to the 32nd scale. The proportions are much the same,
allo-n-ing for size, but lingual teeth are not well discernible, and its scales are as follows, L. r. f-i, L. tr. 9/20.

Hahitat. — Nicobars, from whence the late Dr. Stoliczka brought the specimen figui-ed (7 J inches long),
to the Malay Archipelago.

11. Lutianus rivulatus, Plate XI, fig. 4.

Sjiarus hallee rnaee, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 7.5, pi. 96.

iJiacojJe rivulata, cmruleopunctata, et aIho(jHttiita, Cuv. and Val. ii, pp. 414, 424, 44-5, pi. 38.

Mesoiyrioii myriaster, Lienard, Nat. Hist. Soc. Mauritius, 1839, p. 32.

Mesoprimi coeruleopunetatus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 169.

Lutjanus cosruleojnmctatiis, Bleeker, Amb. p. 278.

Genyoroge rivulata et cmruleoimndata, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 182 ; Day, Fishes of Malabar, pp. 7, 9.

Biacope rivulata, Bllunz. Verh. z. b. Ges. in Wien. 1870, p. 694.

iMtjantis rivulatus, Bleeker, Lutjani, p. 81.

Cttttu pirium, Tarn.

B. vii, D. if, P. 17, V. 1/.5, A. -g% C. 17, L. 1. 45-50, L. r. ff, L. tr. 8/19, Csc. pyl. 5.

Length of head 3/10 to 2/7, of caudal 1/.5, height of body 1/3 of the total length. iJ^es— diameter 2/9
of length of head, \\ diameter from the end of snout, and rather above 1 apart. The maxilla reaches to below
the anterior edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle finely serrated even in the well-developed notch that
is above its angle to receive the interopercnlar knob : horizontal limb of preopercle more coarsely serrated in
its posterior portion than it is on its vertical border. Sub- and inter-opercles entire, the latter have a large
triangular tuberosity directed a little upwards and backwards and received into the preopercular notch. Opercle
with two flattened points, the lower the larger. In the very young the preopercular notch is badly formed, but
as the interopercnlar knob increases in size, it by pressure causes absorption above it and thus forms a notch in
the preopercular border. Teeth — one or two curved canines on either side of the premaxillaries, and an externa!
row of curved canine-like teeth in either jaw, villiform ones in a triangular spot on the vomer, a narrow band
on the palate, but none on the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines strong increasing in length to the third, fourth, and
fifth, which are equal to about one-third of the height of the body, but not quite so long as the highest of the
dorsal rays, they decrease in length to the last which equals two-thirds the height of the longest one : soft
portion of the fin angularly rounded, the ninth to the eleventh rays being the longest. Pectoral as long as the
head : ventral reaches the anus. Anal spines strong, especially the second which is slightly longer than the
third and equals the highest of the dorsal fin : soft portion of the fin angular and one-tliird more than that of
the dorsal : caudal slightly emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows above the lateral-line, and in horizontal ones
below it, a strongly serrated shoulder scale, and two rows of broad scales over the nape. Coluurs — (in the
immature) back olive, with a slate coloured spot in the centre of each scale, thus forming lines passing upwards
and backwards ; abdomen greyish with horizontal golden lines crossing the centre of each scale, and vertical
dark ones along their bases. Several bright blue lines pass downwards and backwards over the preopercle and
opercle, andtwolarger ones along the snout. A large white blotch on the lateral-line opposite the tliird to the fiftli
soft ray, having a wide black edge anteriorly and posteriorly in its upper third. This white mark covers tuui-
scales transversely, is one below and three above the lateral-line. Doi-sal, slate coloured, superiorly I'eddish with
a narrow white edge : pectoral reddish : ventrals slaty with a dark edge : caudal bluish, tipped with red.
Generally vertical bands are more or less distinct. (In the adidt) as about 15 inches in lengtli, the mark on the
lateral-line becomes indistinct, the golden shade is wanting, but the blue spots remain. The white edge to the
fins is also usually absent.

Hahitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Afi-ica, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, and beyond.

12. Lutianus argentimaculatus, Plate XI, fig. 5.

Sci(ena a/rgentiinaculata, Forsk. p. 47.

Scicena argentata, Gmel. Linn. p. 1300.

Perca argentata, Bl. Schn. p. 86.

Alpjliestes gembra et sambra, Bl. Schn. p. 236, t. 51.

Labrus argentatiis, Lacep. iii, pp. 426, 467.

Spiarits rangoo, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 74. pi. 94.

38 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

Biacope arr/entimacidata, Cut. and Yal. ii, p. 432 ; Riipp. Atl. Fischc, p. 71, t. 10, f. 1 ; Klunz. Verb. z.
b. Ges. in Wien. 1870, p. C99.

Mesojmoii ranrjus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 482 ; Day, Fishes of Malabar, p. 10 ; Kner. Novara Fiscbe, p. 34.

Mesoprion cjcmhra, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 485; Cantor, Catal. jj. 15; Giintlier, Catal. i, p. 193; Bleeker,
Sumatra, iv, p. 240.

Mesoprion tceniops, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 543.

Mesoprion immaculatus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 45 (not C.V.)

Mesoprion arr/entimnculatus, Giintlier, Catal. i, p. 192.

Liitjanus samh-a, Bleeker, Ceram. ii, p. 187.

Lutjanus argeDtim.acidatus, Bleeker, Lutjani, p. 84.

Mesoprion sambra, Peters, Monats. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 18G5, p. 111.

Bangoo, Tel. : To-go-re-dah, Andam.

B. vii, D. T^J^, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 45-50, L. r. |i:|A, L. tr. 7-8/lG, Crec. pyl. 4.

Length of head 3i to 2/7, of caudal 1/G to 2/11, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total length. Eyes—
diameter 1/3 to 1/5 of the length of head, 1 to IJ- diameter from end of snout, and 2/3 to 1 diameter apart.
The distance from the eye to the upper edge of the maxilla, equals from a little more to a little le^s than one
diameter of the orbit in height. The maxilla reaches to below the first third or middle of the eye. Vertical
limb of preopercle vriih a very shallow emargination, a rounded angle, and an oblique lower limb, the vertical
border very iinely serrated, most coarsely so at its angle and especially along its lower limb. A slight swelling
on the interopercle. Opcrcle with two blunt points. Teeth — large canines in the premaxillaries ; an outer I'ow
of canine-like ones in either jaw, those in the mandible being much the largest. Villiform teeth in a lanceolate
or A^-form, which sometimes has a central posterior projection, also La a band on the palate, and in the adult, a
large scabrous patch along the centre of the tongue with small ones anterior to it : in the very 3'oung the tongue
may be found destitute of teeth. Fins — dorsal spines not very strong, increasing in length to the thii-d, fourth,
and fifth, which are from one-third to two-fifths of the height of the body, from thence they decrease to the
last which is two-thirds their height : soft portion of the fin rather angular, its longest ray equalling three-fourths
of the length of its ba-se. Pectoral nearly as long as the head, and reaching to above the anal spines : ventral
nearly reaches the vent. Second anal spine the strongest and about equal in length to the third or nearly to the
sixth of the dorsal : its soft portion angular, one fom-th longer than its entire base : caudal emarginate, in some
specimens rather deeply lunated. Scrdcs — in horizontal rows above the lateral-line, in some specimens (especially
young) they are a little sinuous but do not become regularly oblique until under the soft portion of the fin :
bolow the lateral-line they are horizontal. Colours — cherry-red, darkest at the bases of the scales. The front
edge of the anal fin pinkish-white as is also the first ventral ray. Upper margin of spinous dorsal orange. In
some specimens there are dark spots on the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins. The very young have firom six to nine
narrow, vertical, silvery-white bands, which become more or less lost as age increases.

This species more especially differs from L. rosens by the latter having a rounded caudal fin, and from
L. sillaoo in the latter having a higher spinous dorsal, and the rows of scales above the lateral-line being
oblique in their direction. It appears questionable however whether the last is not merely a variety.

Hahitat. — From the Red Sea and East coast of Africa, through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago
and beyond. It attains upwards of two feet in length and is good eating.

13. Lutianus roseus, Plate XI, fig. 6.
Mesoprion rangns, Cantor, Catal. p. 14 (not C. V.)
B. vii, D. \i, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 48, L. r. fi, L. tr. 7/18.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/7, height of body 4/13 of the total length. Ei/es— diameter 2/9 to 1/4
of length of head, 1^ diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. Height of preorbital equals three-fourths of
the length of the eye. The maxilla reaches to below the first third of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle
emarginate, and having an oblique lower limb, the whole being finely serrated, but most ccrarsely at its angle
and along the lower limb. No tuberosity on the interopercle : sub- and intcr-opercles entire : opercle with two
obtuse points. Teeth — one or two rather large and curved canines on either side of the premaxillaries : an
outer row of slightly curved canine-like teeth in both jaws, largest in the lower : a triangular patch of
vUHform ones on the vomer, without any posterior prolongation, a very narrow band on the palate, and an
elongated band of minute ones on the tongue. Fiits — dorsal spines moderatcl}' strong, the fourth the highest, and
equal to the length of the postorbital portion of the head ; from it they decrease to the last, which is three-
fourths as high as the second, the soft portion of the fin ratlaer rounded, as high as four-fifths of the length of
its base and equal to the fourth spine. Pectoral as long as the head behind the posterior nostril : ventral
reaching nearly two-thirds of the distance to the anal : second anal spine stronger and rather longer than the
third and equal to the length of the sixth of the dorsal fin, soft portion of the fin one-fifth higher than that of
the dorsal : caudal rounded. Scales — in horizontal rows below the lateral-line, and also above it so far as to
below the middle of the dorsal spines, where they commence going obliquely to the base of the soft dorsal, but
becoming horizontal beyond the base of that fin: 15 rows between the occiput and base of the first dorsal
spine. Colours — dark reddish-brown, becoming dull cherry-red below the lateral-line : fins with dark edges.

This fish is so like the L. argentimaculatus, that had I not seen many specimens, I should have hesitated

FAJMILT, I— PERCID^. 39

separating them further than varieties. It differs in its rounded instead of emarginate tail : in its yomerine teeth :
its second anal spine and slightly in its scaling, &c. Cantor's specimen appears to be identical -vrith it. _ He
observes : " according to Russell this fish is not much esteemed. At Pinang and Singapore, whei-e single
individuals occur at all seasons, it is of excellent flavour and considered a great acquisition for the table. At
ilalacca it is plentiful, and in our settlements and in the Straits it is known under the denomination of ' red
rock cod.' " He gives D. xi-xri f^'^d as growing to 20 inches in length.

Habitat. — Seas of India'to the Malay Archipelago. The specimen figured (8 inches long) is from Madras.

14. Lutianus sillaoo, Plate XII, fig. 2.

? Simrus silaoo. Russell, Fish Vizag. i, p. 78, pi. 100.

Mesoprion rulellus, Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 2, pi. 2, fig. 2 (not C. V.)

B. vii, D. '°^ '\ P. 16, V. 1/5, A. -j?^, C. 17, L. 1. U, L. r. tl, L- tr. C/15.

Length of head 3J, of caudal 2/11, height of body 3J of the total length. Ei/es — diameter 4f in length
of head, 1^ diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. Upper profile of head slightly concave : the distance
from the eye to the maxilla equals rather more tlian one diameter of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below
the first third of the eye. Vertical limb of preopercle with scarcely any trace of an emargination, angle
rounded, and lower limb very oblique : the whole of the vertical limb is very finely serrated with a few coarser
serrations at its angle. No tx-ace of an interopercular knob. Opercular jioints blunt. Teeth — a pair of large
curved canines in the premaxillaries, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in both jaws : villiform ones in a
_,Y-shape on the vomer and in a band on the palate. A long oval patch of teeth along the centre of the tongue,
with two more small ones side by side near its tip. Fins — dorsal spines weak, the third and fourth of about
the same length, nearly as long as the postorbital portion of the head, and two-fifths the height of the body,
from thence they decrease to the last, which is only a little above half the height of the fourth : soft portion of
the fin angular, and nearly as high as the spines, its longest ray equalling two-thirds of the length of its base.
Pectoral as long as the head behind the first nostril, and reaching to above the last anal spine : ventral extending
to the vent : second anal spine stronger but not so long as the third, which equals that of the seventh of the
dorsal : its soft portion angular, its longest ray equalling the length of the entire base of the fin. Caudal
slightly emarginate. Scales — the rows above the lateral-line first go rather obliquely towards the dorsal fin,
more so under its soft portion : below the lateral-line they are horizontal. There are twelve rows anterior to
the dorsal fin, and seven across the cheeks. Colours — back gTeyish-brow^l, chest orange, abdomen and sides of
a light violet, each scale having a white edge. Spinous portion of dorsal greyish, but the soft with a more
yellow tinge : pectoral reddish : caudal red with a black edge.

Russell gives 11 dorsal spines, otherwise the fish resembles either this species or the L. jalmgarah. My
reason for considering that I wrongly identified them in the " Fishes of Malabar" is that I find that it is this
species which has lingual teeth, and the L. jahmjarali in which they are deficient, as observed by Russell.

This fish is evidently very closely allied if not a mere variety of, L. raiu/us, but its dorsal spines
appear higher, the rows of scales on its back more oblique, its colours difier, and before referring it to that
species, further investigations are required. A figure is given for the purpose of drawing attention to it.

Habitat. — Seas of India, attaining at least four feet in length.

15. Lutianus lioglossus, Plate XII, fig. 1.

Lutjamis monostigma, Bleeker, Halmaheira, Ned. T. Dierk. I, p. 1.5-") (not Cuv. and Val.)*
TJiacope nwnostigma, Klunz. Fische d. Roth. Meer, Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien. 1870, p. 702.
Mesoprion monostir/ma, GiJnther, Fishe d. Sudsee, p. 14, t. xvi.
Lutjanus lioglossiis, Bleeker, Lutjani, p. 74.

B. vii, D. .^S^, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. -g%, C. 17, L. r. ^, L. tr. 6-7/15.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 2/13, height of body 3f to 1/4 in the total length. i?//e.s— diameter 2/7
to 2/9 of length of head, l\ to 2 diameters from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. The distance from
the eye to the maxilla equals one diameter of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below the middle of the eye.
Vertical limb of preopercle with a very shallow emargination, and serrated in its whole extent : a very obscure
interopercular knob. Teeth — strong curved canines in the premaxillaries, an outer row of curved canine-like
teeth in both jaws, largest in the lower : viUiform teeth in a ^.-form in the vomer and a band on the palatines :
no lingual teeth. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, increasing in length to the fourth, which equals
from two-fifths to one-third in the height of the body, the last spine is one-third shorter : soft portion of the
fin somewhat rounded and its height rather less than half its length. Pectoral about as long as the head :
ventral reaching rather above half the distance to the anal. Anal spines rather short, the third slightly the
longest, and equal to three-fourths of the diameter of the orbit in length, soft portion of the fin highest in
front, equalling about the length of its base, lower edge straight : caudal emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows
above the lateral-line and in horizontal ones below it : 12 rows of scales between occiput and first dorsal spine ••
six or seven rows across the cheeks. Colours — roseate, lightest below, with a black blotch on the lateral-line
below the fii'st portion of the soft dorsal fin.

* Mesoprion monostigma. C. and V.=Lxitianits fulvijlaimna, see p. 41. Kelaart's specimen of Misox^ion rangjis, from Ceylon,
has the rows above the L. 1. oblique, aiul L. r. {'ti L- tr. 8/.

40 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

Tlie small eye, short anal spines, and edentidous tongue divide this species from fnh-!flariima, -wliich t
much reseml)les, whilst its scales L. r. ff likewise show that it cannot be L. jahngamh having L. r. Af.

Habitat. — Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago ; attaining at least 18 inches in length.

16. Lutianus jahngarali.

Sparus enjthrinws, ? Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 72, Jakiujarah, pi. 90.

Mesoprion sillaao, Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 12, pi. 11. fig. 1 (net C. V.)

Purruwa, Ooriah.

B. vii, D. T^.Q^, P. IC, V. 1/5, A. §, C. 17, L. 1. 46, L. r. fj, L. tr. 6/17.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Ei/es — diameter 1/5 of fength
of head, If diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. Dorsal profile more convex than that of the abdomen.
The distance between the eye and the upper edge of the maxilla equals one diameter of the orbit. The maxilla
reaches to below the middle of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle with a shallow emargination above its
rounded angle, which appears continuous with its oblique lower limb ; the whole of its vertical limb is finely
serrated, but about the angle they increase in size, and along the lower limb are more widely apart. A distinct
though small interopercular knob. Opercular points blunt. Teeth — a pair of large slightly curved canines in
tlie premaxillaries, an outer row of curved, conical, canine-like teeth in both jaws, those in the lower being the
largest : villiform ones in a j\-shape in the vomer, in a band on the palate but none on the tongue. Fins —
dorsal spines moderately strong, the third the longest and nearly equal to one-third the height of the bodj',
fi'om it they decrease to the last, which is only half its height ; soft portion of the fin rather rounded, not so
high as the spinous, and its highest ray equal to two-thirds the length of its base. Pectoral as long as the
head behind the front nostrd, and not reaching to above the anal spines, the ventral reaches a little above half
way to the anal fin. Second anal spine stronger but shorter than the third, which equals the length of the
seventh dorsal spine or one diameter of the orbit, soft portion of the fin angularly rounded, central rays the
highest and equal the length of its entire base : caudal emarginate, being lobed in its last fourth, the upper
being slightly the longer. Scales — in almost parallel rows to the dorsal profile both above and below the
lateral-line, but becoming a little irregular below the soft dorsal, where they ascend obliquely upwards and
backwards, but become horizontal again beyond the end of the fin: seven rows across the cheeks: 11 rows
between the occiput and base of dorsal fin. Colours — back brownish-red, the base of each scale being darkest,
whilst below the lateral-line it becomes of a lake-colour, having a tinge of orange along the lower surface of
the body. A blue zig-zag line crosses the preorbital. Spinous portion of dorsal and anal grej-ish, the soft
scarlet tinged with orange : pectorals scarlet : front edge of anal whitish.

This species is evidently closely allied to L. rangus, it difi'ers greatly in colours, in wanting lingual teeth,
in the number of its scales, the length of its spines, and the size of its eye. L. lioglossiis, Bleeker, has no lingual
teeth, but its scales are oblique above the lateral-line, and much more numerous, being L. r. fyj. This species
difi'ers fi-om L. sillaoo in having a small interopercular knob, its lower spinous dorsal, the direction of its scales
above the lateral-line, &c.

Habitat. — Seas of India, attaining two feet or more in length. It is esteemed good eating.

17. Lutianus quinqiielineatus, Plate XII, fig. 3.

Holocentnis qm'nqnelineat ns, Bloch, iv, p. 84 : Laccp. iv, p. 329.

Sparus mungi inapudi, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 8, pi. 110.

Mesopirion qrdnquelineatus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 445 : Giinther, Catal. i, p. 209.

Biampe cmmleolineata, Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 93, t. 24, f. 3 : Klunz. Verh. z. b. Ges. in Wien, 1870, p. 701.

B. vii, D. ^_°„, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. jV, C. 17, L. I. 51, L. r. a§, L. tr. 8/21.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 2/11, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Eyes— diameter 2/9 of
length of head, 1^ diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Body rather strongly compressed,
dorsal profile having a considerable rise from the snout and being somewhat concave above the orbit. The
maxilla reaches to below the middle of the orbit. Height of preorbital below the first third of the eye equals
three-fourths of the diameter of the orbit. Preopercle with a shallow emargination above its angle, the whole
of its vertical limb finely serrated, most coarsely so at its angle, lower limb entire : no interopercular knob :
opercle with two verj- blunt points. Teeth — an exceedingly strong curved canine on either side of the prcmaxillary,
and two intermediate small ones, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in both jaws, largest in the lower :
villiform ones in a ^-shape on the vomer, in a narrow band on the palatines and in an oblong patch along the
centre of the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines moderately strong, increasing in height to the fourth, which equals
the length of the postorbital portion of the head ; they subsequently gradually decrease to the last, which is
two-thirds the height of the longest ; soft portion of the fin rounded, as high as the spinous, and its longest ray
equal to two-thu-ds of the length of its base. Pectoral equals the length of the head behind the posterior
nostril : the ventral does not quite reach the anal spines. Second anal spine stronger but not so long as the
third, which equals the length of the last dorsal spine, soft portion of the fin one-third higher in front than the
last ray, its lower edge rounded : caudal lunated. Scales — in oblique rows above the latei-al-line and horizontal
ones below it : they extend forwards on the back to above the hind edge of the eye : seven rows on the cheeks.
Colours — a blue band goes from the eye to the base of the last dorsal spine : two from the posterior-superior

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 41

angle of the eye coalesce under tlie sixth dorsal spine and proceed to the middle of the base of the soft dorsal :
the fourth, also arising from the eye, goes along the lateral-line and opposite the sixth dorsal spine curves
upwards, going to the end of the base of the soft dorsal : the fifth band, which is the broadest, commences just
aljove the midtlle of the hind edge of the eye and goes to the upper half of the base of the caudal fin : the sixth
from the lower edge of the eye to the middle of the base of the caudal. A dark mark exists at the base of the
pectoral, a black blotch on the lateral-Une below the commencement of the soft dorsal fin.

In the ' Fishes of Zanzibar' it is observed : " Diacope cceruleo-Uiieata. Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 93, t. 24, f. 3
[not M. quinqzielineatus* Cuv. and Val.]." Sleeker, Lutjani, p. 40, observes: M. quinquelineatus, C. V. is
described from the Mungi mcqndi, Russell, and has blue lines which superiorly are parallel to the profile of the
liack and are continued to the base of the caudal. He doubts if Riippell's fish with the Lines going obliquely
to the back is the same species.

The specimen of Bloch's, Lutianus quinquelineatus, 9 inches long, No. 229, is undoubtedly this_ species,
and differs widely from the figured quinquelinearis, the type of which is likewise in existence, both being in a
good state of preservation at Berlin.

Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India : the specimen figui'ed is G inches in length and
from the Andaman Islands.

18. Lutianus lunulatus, Plate XII, fig. 4.

Perca lunulaia, Mungo Park, Trans. Linn. Soc. iii, p. 3-5, pi. 6.

Lutjanm hmulatus, Lacep. iv, p. 213 ; Bl. Schn. p. 329 ; Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xvii. f. 1, and Lutjani, p. 64.

Mesoprion lunulatus, Cuv. and Val. ii. p. 477 ; Bleeker, Sumatra, p. 75.

B. vii, D. ^3^, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. ^!^, C. 19, L. 1. 55, L. r. f|, L. tr. 7/21.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total lengt-h. %es— diameter 1/4 of
length of head, 1^ diameters from end of snout, and nearly one apart. The distance from the eye to the upper
edge of the maxilla equals three-fourths of the diameter of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below the first
thu-d of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle with a shallow emargination and an oblique lower limb, its
vertical limb is finely, its angle more coarsely serrated, lower limb entire. No interopercular knob. Teeth--
large curved canines in the intermaxillaries, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in both jaws, largest in
the lower : villiform ones in a _^-shaped band on the vomer, a narrow one on the palatines, and a small patch
near the anterior end of the tongue. Fins—doTsal spines weak, the fourth the longest and nearly equaUing the
length of the postorbital portion of the head, from it they decrease to the last which is about two-thii-ds its
height : soft portion of the fin rounded, its highest ray equalling one-half the length of its base but not so high
as the fourth spine. Pectoral much longer than the ventral, being nearly as long as the head : ventral reaching
two-thirds of the distance to the anal. Second anal spine longer and stronger than the third : the anterior
rays the highest, equalling the length of the base of the entire fin, its lower edge straight, caudal emarginate.
Scales— in oblique rows above the lateral-Une and in horizontal ones below it : superiorly they extend forwards
to nearly above the hind edge of the orbit. Co/oztrs— reddish-crimson superiorly becoming silvery-white on the
abdomen : golden lines along each row of scales : dorsal, caudal, and anal with a black outer edge and an
external white margin : a lunated black band at the base of the caudal fin extending along its outer edges to
the end of the fin : pectoral and ventrals yellow.

Bleeker places Diacope bitmniata, C. V. as a synonym of this species, but the tyjDO specimen in the Pans
Museum has a distinct and rather well-developed interopercular knob, although the emai'giuation of the preopercle
is not very deep. The specimen however is not an adult.

Habitat.— Coast of Sind (where the specimen figured, 10 iuches long, was captured) to the Malay
Archipelago.

19. Lutianus fulviflamma, Plate XII, fig. 5 and 6.

Sciwna fulviflamma, Forsk. p. 45; Gmel. Lin. p. 1299.

Ferca fulviflamma, Bl. Schn. p, 90.

.'' Liitjanus notatus, Bl. Schn. p. 325 (not Bloch).

Centropomus hober, Lacep. iv, p. 255.

Sparus antika doondiaivah, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 76, pi. 98.

Diacope fulviflamma, Riipp. Atl. Fische, p. 72, 1. 19, f. 2, and N. W. Fische, p. 94 ; Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 423 ;
Klunz. Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 700.

Mesoprion unimacidatas, Quoy and Gaim. Zool. Freyc. p. 304 ; Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 441 ; Bleeker, Perc.
p. 42 ; Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Astrol. p. 665, pi. 5, f. 3.

Mesoprion aurolineatus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 496 ; Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 14, pi. iii.

Mesoprion Btissellii, Bleeker,Verh. Bat. Gen. xxii, Perc. p. 41 ; Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 701.

Lutjanus notatus, Bleeker, Ternate, p. 233.

Genyoroge notata. Cantor, Catal. p. 12 ; Day, Fishes of Malabar, p. 8 (not C. V.) o t^

Mesoprion fidvifloAnma, Bleeker, Amb. ii, p. 532 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 201 ; Day, Fish. Mai. p. 13 ; Kner,
Novara Fische, p. 35.

* The specimen probably referred to is thns marked in the Catalogue, "a. Adult, sine patria. D. t2' A. I' L- 1- 80," andwhich
(omitting the bhick blotch, which is now imperceptible) I would suggest is L. chrysotamia: is such a modiiication ot this species :•

G

42 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

Lidjanus Bussellii, Blceker, Atl. Icli. Perc. t. xxii. f. 2, and Lutjani, p. 7G.

Indjaims imimaculatus, Vaillant, Soc. Phil. Paris, May 23rd, 1874.

Ltdjanus fulviflmnma, Bleeker, Halmali. p. 155, Lutjani, p. 61.

Vella-chemholay, Mai. ; Shemliara and Gurrumay, Tarn.

B. vii, D. ^."tt, p. 10, V. 1/5, A. A C. 17, L. 1. 50-54, L. r. ^'.|_, L. tr. 7-8/lG, C«c. pyl. 4-6.

Length, of head 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 2/7 to
1/4 of length of head, 3/4 to 1|- diameters from end of .snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Snout rather
pointed, the maxilla reaches to below the first tliii-d of the orbit : height from the eye to the upper edge of the
maxilla equal to two-thirds of the diameter of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle with a shallow emargi-
nation, its angle rather produced, and its lower limb oblique, the whole being finely serrated, most coarsely so at
its angle, whilst the serrations are continued half way along the vertical limb. No interopercular knob : two
opercular points. Teeth — strong curved canines in the premaxillaries, an outer row of curved, conical, canine-
like teeth in both jaws, largest in the lower : villiform teeth in a ^-shape or T-shape on the vomer, in a band
on the palatines, and an oblong patch on the tongue (in the adult) which is widest anteriorly. Fins — dorsal
spines not very strong, the third of nearly the same height as the fourth and fifth, from whence they gi-adually
decrease, the third is one-third higher than the rays and from two-fifths to half as long as the head : rayed
portion rounded, two-thirds as high as its base is long. Pectoral as long as the head behind the front nostril :
ventral not reaching the vent. Third anal spine about equal in strength but slightly shorter than the second,
which equals one diameter and a quarter of the eye in length, and is of equal length with the first ray, which
is twice as long as the last, lower edge of the fin concave : caudal slightly emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows
above the lateral-line and horizontal ones below it : from six to eight rows on the cheeks : superiorly they
extend forwards to above the hind edge of the eye. Colours — yellow or rosy along the back, with three or four,
in the variety L. Etissellii* narrow and brilliant golden bands passing obliquely upwards and backwards from
the lateral-line, and three or four similar golden bands below it, the first of which goes from the posterior edge
of the orbit to the finger mark : the second from the middle of the opercle to opposite the end of the soft
dorsal, where it becomes lost on the lateral-line : the third from below the orbit to the base of the caudal fin :
and the fourth from below the base of the pectoral to the base of the anal. A large black blotch exists on the
lateral-line opposite the commencement of the soft dorsal fin from the 22nd to the 28th or 31st scales, most of
it being below the line and only reaching to one or two scales above it : in the variety L. Russellii, however, this
mark is mostly above the lateral-line.

The type specimen of Mesoprion monostigma at Paris is 3^ inches in length. The eye is a little less
than 1/3 of the length of the head, and 1 diameter from the end of the snout. The second anal spine is of
nearly the same length as the third and equal to 2| in the length of the head.f

The Lidianus fidviflamma is found in two very distinct varieties : in one there are the yellow lines such
as I have described and also figiu-ed (in pi. xii, fig. 6), and in this form, L. Bussellii, the distance from the eye
to the snout and the size of the lateral blotch is a little more than we pei'ceive it to be in the tj-pical L. fidvi-
flamma, of which I have also given a figure (pi. xii, fig. 5.) The two specimens were 7\ and 10 inches
refspectively in length, and, examined together, certainly appear to be distinct species : but in comparing a large
number of specimens, every intermediate variety in form and colotu- (except the yellow fillets of the L. Bussellii)
are to be seen.

Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the JIalay Archipelago, and beyond.

20. Lutianus Johnii, Plate XIII, fig. 1.

Anthias Jolmii, Bloch, t. 318 ; Bloch, Schneid. p. 303.

Lidjanus Jolmii, Lacep. iv, p. 235 ; Bleeker, Lutjani, p. 20 ; Vaillant, Soc. Phil, de Paris, ilay, 1874.

Sparus doondiaivah, Russell, i, p. 76, pi. 97.

Coins catus. Ham. Buch. pp. 90, 369, pi. 38, f. 30.

Sparus Malabarictis, Shaw, Zool. iv, p. 471.

Serraniis pavonimis, (young) Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 443; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 126.

* In a specimen of this fish (var. Etissellii) at l^^ inches long, not only are the vertical and horizontal limbs of the preopercle
serrated, but the bone has the appearance of a double edge as seen in Amiassis and Apogon, having a few serrations upon it. The
interopercle is likewise serrated in its last half.

t The following lengths of the 3rd anal spine have been carefully made from 10 specimens:

Inches.
L. ftilmflamma (BMSselKi), Length of specimen 5^ ; Length of anal spine 2,^ in the length of head.

n »' »» ») ^4 » i» -T )) )i

JJ >» '1 »» O J3 it 3, „ „

« 'I >t ») 10 „ „ 2§ „ „

n >3 '» II 16 - „ „ 4^ „ „

Jl II '2 II II "^3 II 'I

ft 4J-

II II O II II ^2 'I II

II ?j 12 J, „ 4^ ,, „

»» i> 13 II II '*T» II II

SI II ^^ 11 »i ^Trt" 51 I,

FAilILT, I— PERCID^. 43

3Ieso2n-lon Johnii, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 443; Cantor, Catal. p. 13; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 200; Day, Fisli.
Malabar, p. 11 ; Kner, Novara Fisclie, p. 35.

Mesoprion Jlavipinnis, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 475.

Mesoprion tmimaculatus, Richardson, Ich. Cliina, p. 222 (not Quoy and Gaim.)

Chemholay, Mai. : Nya-pd-nee, Bm-m.

B. vii, D. yJ.^, P. IG, V. 1/5, A. -gl-s, C. 17, L. 1. 48, L. r. %-%, L. tr. 7/13, Ceec. pyl. (4 Kner.)

Length 'of head 4/13 to 2/7, of caudal 1/5 to 2/11, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Eyes—
diameter 1/4 to 1/5 or even 1/6 in large specimens of the length of head, 1 J to 1| diameters from the end of
snout, and from 3/4 to 1 apart. Dorsal profile more convex than that of the abdomen. Preorbital equals three-
foui'ths of the diameter of the orbit in height. The maxilla reaches to below the first third or middle of the
orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle finely serrated, becoming more coarsely so at its angle, which is somewhat
produced and rounded, its lower limb with a few .serrations and crenulations. A very indistinct tuberosity on
the interopercle is sometimes present : opercle with two flat points the lower being the longer. The fry up to
about 1| inches in length have a spine at the angle of the preopercle, which becomes absorbed as age advances,
the lower limb of the preopercle is also strongly serrated : in a specimen 2\ inches long the spine remains only
in the form of a strong denticulation, whilst there are seven more strong serrations along the lower limb.
Teeth — cui-ved canines of moderate strength in the premaxillaries, an outer curved row of canine-like teeth in
both jaws : viUiform ones in a triangular patch or elongated ^-form on the vomer, in a band on the palatines,
and in an elongated pat'ch on the tongue in the adult. Fins — dorsal spines strong, increasing in length to the
fourth, which is two-fifths of the height of the body, from this spine they decrease to the last, which is about
one-fourth shorter, the soft portion of the fin somewhat rounded, its longest rays equal to five-sixths of the
length of its base and exceed that of the highest spine. Pectoral nearly as long as the head : ventral reaches
the vent : second anal spine usually slightly the longest and strongest, it equals the height of the third spine of
the dorsal, the rayed portion rounded and rather higher than that of the dorsal: caudal slightly emarginate.
Scales-— il\e rows above the lateral-line are parallel with the profile of the back, whilst those below it are
horizontal. Scales on the dorsal profile only extend forwards to a level with the hind edge of the orbit.
Colours — yellowish, lightest on the abdomen, with a large black finger mark, of varying depths of colour, on
the lateral-line between the 22nd and 31st scales ; age, season, and locality all exercise an influence on this
blotch : a dark line is almost invariably present along each row of scales. Fins yellow dashed with red : anal
with a light front edge.

In the young the ocellus on the side is larger, in a specimen 2| inches long it commences on the 19th
scale, and is surrounded by a light ring, thus constituting Serranus pavo7dnus, Val., whose single specimen was
a little over an inch in length : the observation of its having a strong spine at the angle of the " opercle" is
evidently a misprint for " preopercle."

Hamilton Buchanan points out the aflanity of Coius catus with the Booiidiawah of Russell as well as
with his Mmigi mupudee (No. 110), also th&t Anthlas Johnii, Bloch, is nearly allied. It is readily distinguished
from all allied species of Lutianus, with lateral blotches, recox;ded from the seas of India, by its having no
oblique rows of scales on the body, all those above the lateral-line being parallel to the back and those below it
being horizontal.

The type specimen of Mesoprion fiwoipimnis, C. V. (a skin) belongs to this species, the lateral blotch has
been omitted from the short description.

Eahltat.—Sea.s of India, Malay Archipelago and beyond, attaining a foot or more in length. The
specimen figxired is 65 inches long and from Madras.

21. Lutianus gibbus, Plate XIII, fig. 2 (adult) : 3 (young).

Scicena qihha. Forsk. p. 46.
Solocentrus houtonensis, Lacep. iv, pp. 331, 367.
Lutjanus gihhus, Bl. Schn. p. 326.

Diacope ooccinea, (Ehren.) Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 437 ; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 91, t. 23, f. 3.
Diacope gibia, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 438; Klunz. Fische d. Roth. Meer. Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien, 18/0,
p. 693.

Diacope huUonensis, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 434, and vi, p. 535.

Diacope horensis, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 532.

Diacope tica, Less. Voy. Duperr. Poiss. p. 231, pi. 23.

Mesojirion bottonensis, Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. ii, p. 170; Kner, Nov. Fische, p. 32, f. 6.

Mesoprion janthintis, Bleeker, 1. c. vi, p. 52.

Genyoroge gibba, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 180.

Genyoroge bottonensis, Giinther, I. c. p. 181.

Gengoroge melanura, Giinther, 1. c. p. 183.

Mesoprion borensis, Giinther, 1. c. p. 199.

Mesoprion gibbus, Giinther, Fische d. Sudsee, p. 12, t. xii, and xiii, f. A.

B. vii, D. \-1, P. 18, V. 1/5, A. J^, C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. r. if, L^ ^^- 8/23, Ckc. pyl. 4-5.

Length of head 3/11, of caudal 1/5, height of body 3/10 of the total length. ^ i/^/es- diameter

44 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

4|- (in tlie adult) to Sj (in tlie young) in length of head, 1| diameters from end of snout, and 1 apai't. Body
compressed, profile above the eyes concave : the distance from the eye to the upper edge of the maxilla equals
If diameters of the orbit in height. The maxilla reaches to below the front edge of the orbit. Vertical limb
of preopercle with a very deep emargination succeeded by a broad and deep angle, its height forming half of that
of the vertical limb, above the notch the serrations are very fine, on the roimded, produced angle they are coarse,
and a few are continued along its oblique lower limb. Interopercular knob well developed. Teei/t— large canines
in the premaxUlaries, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in both jaws, the most jDosterior of those in the
upper jaw being directed slightly forwards : vUliform teeth in a ^-form in the vomer, and in a band on the
palatines, none on the tongue. Fins — the third to the fifth dorsal spines the longest and equal to two-sevenths
of the height of the bodj', posteriorly they gradually decrease, the last being three-fourths of their height : soft
portion of the fin rounded in the young, more pointed in the adult, the length of the highest ray being three-
fifths of that of its base. Pectoral reaches to nearly above the anal, and is as long as the liead behind the
posterior nostril : ventral reaches the vent. Second anal spine strongest and slightly the longest, it equals the
highest in the dorsal fin : soft portion of the fin angular, the middle rays rather longer than its entire base.
Caudal slightly notched in the young, more emarginate in the adult, the upper portion being the longer.
Scales — go in oblique rows, directly upwards and backwards, above the lateral-line, and in sinuously oblique ones,
taking the same course, below the lateral-line : six rows on cheeks : superiorly tliey extend forwards to above
the hind edge of the eye. Free portion of the tail rather higher than long. Colours — uniform crimson, dorsal
and anal fins having a black edge with a white external margin, and a white tip to the caudal lobes : a dark
band along the base of the dorsal and anal fins : pectorals and ventrals yellow, the latter witli a dark tip : caudal
dark purple. In the young — body crimson, with a black band commencing at the end of the dorsal fin, and
covering a part of the hind end of the free portion of the tail and the caudal fin, except that it has a white
outer edge.

Bleeker suggests whether Biacope axillaris, C.V. vi, p. .532, may nut be this species, but Cuv. and Yal.
observe that perhaps it is merely a variety of the marginafa.

Halitat — Red Sea, Andaman islands to the South Sea, the largest specimen obtained (IH inches) is
figured as the adult, one of the smaller ones is given (fig. 3) life-size. This fish attains at least IG inches in
length.

22. Lutianus boliar, Plate XIII, fig. 4.

Scioina bohar, Forsk. p. 46, No. 47.

SjHinis lepisurus, Lacep. iii, t. 1.5, f. 2.

Lutjanus hohar, Bl. Schn. p. 325 ; Bleeker, Lutjani, p. 57.

Diacojie hohar, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 433 ; Riipp. Atl. Fische, p. 73, and N. W. Fische, p. 103 ; Klunz.
Verb. z. b. Ges Wien, 1870, p. 699.

Biacope qioadriguttata, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 427, vi, p. 533.

Mesoprion q-uadriguttatus, Bleeker, Banda, -p. 233.

Mesoprion bohar, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 190, and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 13, t. xv.

B. vii, D. if, p. 17, Y. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. r. f|, L. tr. 7/18.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 2/9, height of body 1/3 of the total length. Egcs— diameter 2/7 of length
of head, 1| diameter from end of snout, and also apart. The distance from the eye to the upper edge of the
maxilla equals two-thirds of the diameter of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below the middle of the eye.
Vertical margin of the preopercle with a shallow notch, the whole of it serrated, most strongly so at its rounded
and slightly produced angle, its lower limb oblique and likewise serrated : interopercle with a very small knob.
Teeth — a pair of large canines in the premaxillaries, an outer row of conical canine-like teeth in either jaw :
viUiform ones in a ^-shape on the vomer, in a band on the palatines, and in one or two long patches on the
tongue. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the foui-th the longest and equalling the length of the post-
orbital portion of the head, last dorsal spine slightly exceeding one diameter of the orbit in length : soft portion
of the fin rounded, the highest ray equalling two-thirds of the length of its base. Pectoral reaching to nearly
above the anal spines, the ventrals scarcely so far : second anal spine strongest and somewhat the longest,
equalling the third of the dorsal : soft portion of the fin romided and the height of the rays equalling the length
of the entire base of the fin, its lower edge straight : caudal somewhat deeply emarginate. Scales — in oblique
rows above the lateral-line and in horizontal ones below it : on the upper sui'tace of the body they reach to above
the hind edge of the orbit. Colours — brownish along the back becoming whiter on the sides and below : tvro
milk-white spots along the base of the dorsal fin, the first below the sixth to the eighth spines, the second below
the last thu-d of the soft dorsal : first dorsal deep blackish-brown, which is continued along the upper edge of the
first half of the soft dorsal : outer edges of caudal and front edge of anal blackish, the latter fin having a
narrow white anterior margin : ventral black, with a white outer edge.

Habitat. — From the Red Sea through those of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. The specimen
figured is 6 inches in length.

23. Lutianus marginatus, Plate XIII, fig. 5.
Biacope marginafa, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 425 ; Peters, Wieg. Arch. 18-55, p. 238.
Biacope xanthopus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 495.

FAJnLT, I— PERCID^. 45

Diacope axillaris, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 532.

Mesoprion marginatus, Bleeker, Amboina, 1852, ii, p. 554 ; Kner, Novara Fisclie, p. 31 ; Giinther. Fische
d. Sudsee, p. 13, t. xiv.

Mesoprion Gaimanli, Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Ind. Neerl. vi, Enum. Pise. p. 23.
Genyoroge inarginata, Giintlier, Catal. i, p. 181.
LtUjanus marginatus, Bleeker, Halmah, p. 155, and Lutjani, p. 72.
Simgarah, Tam.

B. vii, D. ^_\j, P. IG, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. r. H, L. tr. 6-7/15, Case. pyl. (7 Kner.)

Length of head 2/7 to 1/4, of caudal 1/5, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total length. Eyes — diameter
2/7 of length of head, Ij diameters from end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. The height of the
preorhital equals two-thirds of the length of the orbit. The maxilla reaches to below the fu-st third of the
orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle finely serrated above its emargination, which is deep and situated in its lower
third, angle rounded where the serratures are coarsest, whilst some are continued along its horizontal edge : sub-
aud inter-opercles entire, the latter having a large tuberosity directed upwards and slightly outwards and which
is received into the preopercular notch : opercle with two smaU points. Teeth — moderately strong canines in
the premasUlaries, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in both jaws, a narrow villiform ^-shaped series in
the vomer, and a narrow palatine band : none on the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines strong, the fourth the longest
and equal to two-fifths the height of the body, from it they gi'adually decrease in length to the last which equals
the length of the orbit, the soft portion of the fin rounded, three-fourths as high as the fourth spine, and its
height equal to half the length of its base. Pectoral nearly as long as the head and reaching to above the fir.st
anal spine : ventral reaches the vent. Second anal spine the strongest and equal to or rather longer than the
third, and as long as the highest in the dorsal fin : soft portion of the fin one-third higher than that of the
dorsal : caudal emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows above the lateral-line to opposite the end of the dorsal fin
where they become horizontal, as they like^wise are below the lateral-Hne ; they extend forwards on the back to
above the hind edge of the eye. Colours — purplish-yellow above the lateral-line and golden below it.. Generally
no lateral blotch. The colours of the back are continued on to the lower third of the dorsal fin and cease at a
dark grey longitudinal band which has a lighter one above it, edged superiorly with black and margined with
white : caudal dark purplish-red having a white edge : pectoral, ventral and anal flesh-coloured having a
yellowish tint.

On the Malabar coast of India specimens are frequently taken that have a black lateral-blotch : also on
the Coromandel coast some few have the lateral-mark faintly developed, but it is more commonly absent.
This does not depend upon size or season, but may upon sex or locality : in specimens jjreserved in spirit the
mark is liable to disappear. The one figured is 7 inches long, and from iladras.

Habitat. — East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, attaining at least 16 inches in length.

24. Lutianus yapilli, Plato XIII, fig. 6.

Spartis yapilli, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 75, pi. 95.
Mesoprion yapilli, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 483.

B. vii, D. -La, p. 17, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 47, L. r. -Jf, L. tr. 6/14.

Length of head nearly 1/4, of caudal 1/8, height of body 3/11 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/6
of length of head, 2 diameters from end of snout, and 1\ apart. The distance from the eye to the upper edge
of the maxilla equals one diameter and a quarter the length of the orbit : lower jaw the longer. The maxilla
reaches to below the front edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle with a very shallow emargination
above its rounded angle, the whole of the limb being finely serrated, the serrations becoming a little more coarse
and widely separated at its angle and along its horizontal border. Sub- and inter-opercles entire. N"o
interopercular knob. Teeth — large canines in the premaxillaries, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in
either jaw : villiform ones in a ^-form on the vomer, and in a band on the palate. The specimen having had
the tongue removed the existence or not of lingual teeth cannot be ascertained. Russell also omits to mention
whether it is rough or smooth, a subject which he generally notices. Fins — dorsal spines strong, the third being
three-c[uarters the height of the fourth which is nearly half the height of the body, they decrease to the ninth
which is only 4/11 of that of the fourth spine : soft portion of the dorsal rounded, its height being rather more
than half the length of its base. Pectoral nearly as long as the head ; the ventral does not reach half the way to the
anal fin. Second anal spine the strongest but not quite so long as the third, which equals the length of the head
anterior to the orbits : its soft portion a little higher than long at its base, lower edge rounded. Scales — in
rows parallel to the back above the lateral-Hne, and horizontal below it : 7 rows on the cheeks, none on the
preorbital : superiorly they extend to above the hind edge of the eye, ten rows between the occiput and the
first dorsal spine. Colours — silvery-grey on the back becoming yellowish white on the abdomen : longitudinal
yellowish bands along each row of scales, which in the dry specimen appear sometimes in the form of occasional
black spots : cheeks dashed with purple. Fins yellowish, dorsal, anal, and caudal edged with orange.

The foregoing description is from a single specimen 26^ inches long, stuffed, and in the British Museum,
it came from ]\Iadras where I was not so fortunate as to meet with the species. Jerdon remarks, in
Ichthyological Gleanings in Madras (M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 130) " VcUa kadisay, Tam. Russell, pi. 95.
Not very common, of soft texture." A figure of it exists amongst Sir W. Elliot's drawings.

Habitat. — Coromandel coast of India.

46 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

25. Lutianus quinquelinearis, Plate XIV, fig. 1.

Holocentms quinquelinearis, Bl. iv, p. 84, t. 239.

Grammistes quinqiievittatus, Bl. Schn. p. 187.

Biacope octoUneata, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 418 and yi, p. 526, (in part) ; Ricliardson, Icli. China, p. 22P.

Mesoprioii etaapee, Less. Voy. Co(i. ii, p. 229.

Diacope decemlineata, Cuv. and Val. vi, p. 528.

Mesoprioii odolineatus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 40.

Mesoprion piomacantlius, Bleeker, Amb. p. 407 (in part).

•Genyoroqe Bengalensis, Giintiier, Catal. i, p. 178 (in part).

Genyoroije granmiica, Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. G79 (not Bleeker).

Mesopjrion Bengalensis, Kner, No vara Pische, p. 31.

Lutjanus quinquelineatus, Bleeker, Lutjani, p. 37.

B- vii, yJ.Q^e, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. ^'y, C. 17, L. 1. 56, L. r. f|, L. tr. 8/19, Cisc. pyl. 5.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 3/10 to 2/7 of the total length, ^es— diameter 3/10 to
1/3 of the length of head, about 1 diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Dorsal profile more
convex than that of the abdomen, Avhich is nearly horizontal : lower jaw slightly the longer : distance from the
eye to the upper edge of tlie maxilla equals a little more than half the diameter of the orbit. The maxilla reaches
to below the first third of the orbit. Vortical limb of preopercle with a very deep emargination and a rounded
angle, the whole being serrated, the serrations at the lower angle being coarse, lower limb also serrated. A
strong interopercular knob : opercular points indistinct. Teeth — a pair of moderate sized curved canines in the
premaxillaries, an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in either jaw, those in the upper being the largest : villi-
form ones in a ^.-form in the vomer, a band on the palatines, but none on the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate
strength, increasing in length to the fourth which equals 2^ in the height of the body, from it thej- slightly
decrease to the last which equals one diameter of the orbit in length, the soft portion of the fin rounded, the
highest ray equal to half the length of its base. Pectoral not quite so long as the head, second anal spine rather
longest and strongest, it equals half the height of the body, the rayed portion highest anteriorly where its
rays equal the length of its base, its lower edge rounded : caudal emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows above the
lateral-line, and in horizontal ones below it, superioi-ly they extend forward to above the anterior third of the eye :
the suborbital ring of bones is more or less scaled, and in adults some are even present on the preorbital. Colours
— olive-yellow, with a deep black finger-mark on the lateral-line below the last few dorsal spines and the first few
rays : some lines above the nape formed by a dark spot on each scale. Five blue bands pass from the eye, the first
three from above it to the dorsal fin or its termination, the two next from the middle and lower edge of the eye
join on the end of the opercle and pass direct to the middle of the base of the tail : the lowest from the
snout is continued past the pectoral fin to the end of the base of the soft anal : fins yellow : c-audal with a light

Neither Bloch's specimen* or figure shows any lateral blotch, which according to Bleeker is sometimes
absent, all my specimens possess it, and in all that I examined I found 5 ciBcal appendages, whereas the Benga-
lensis has none.

Genyoroge -notata Giinther, has D -j-i-, and 9 rows of scales between the lateral-line and the first dorsal
spine, otherwise it resembles the fish described above, and of which I consider it is a variety.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the Iilalay Archipelago. The specimen figured (6 inches long) is from the
Andaman islands, but the species is common at Madras.

26. Lutianus vitta, Plate XIV, fig. 2.

Serraims vitta, Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Frey. p. 315, pi. 58, f. 3 ; Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 239, vi, p. 505 ;
Eichards. Ich. China, p. 234.

Biacope vitta, Temm. and Schleg. Fauna Japon. p. 13, t. 6, fig. 1.

Mesoprioii enneacantJnis, Bleeker, Perc. p. 40 (D. -j\) : Giinther, Catal. i, p. 209.

Mesoprion phaiotfeniatus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 43.

Mesoprion vitta, Bleeker, Perc. p. 44; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 207 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 37.

Mesoprion opliuysenii, Bleeker, Sumatra, p. 74.

Lutjanus vitta, Bleeker, Ternate, p. 233 and Lutjani, p. 25.

B. vii, D. ia P. 16, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. r. f|:fg, L. tr. 8/12.

Length of head from 2/7 to 3/11, of caudal 1/6, height of body 2/7 of the total length. .Byes— diameter
2/7 to 1/4 of length of head, 1^ to 1| diameter from end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. Body .somewhat
compressed, dorsal profile more convex than that of the abdomen, but above the eyes it is somewhat concave.
Lower jaw slightly the longer : the maxilla reaches to below the first third of the orbit. Suborbital ring of
bones below the front thu'd of the orbit equalling three-fourths of the diameter of the eye in depth. Vertical
limb of preopercle with a shallow emargination, its angle slightly rounded but not produced, its lower edge rather
oljlique, it is finely serrated along both limbs, most coarsely so at its angle: opercle with two small and flat

• Bloch's specimen is S^'j, inches long, and in goott preservation at Berlin, it is marlced thus by Valenciennes, Holocentrus
quinqtievittatus, Bl. t. 239 ; Dlacoie decemlineata, C.V.

FAIIILT, I-PERCIDiE. 47

points. Sometimes there is a very indistinct interopercular swelling. Teeth — large canines in tlie premaxillaries,
an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in either jaw, villiform ones in a triangular spot on the vomer, which
patch may be produced posteriorly in the median line, a similar narrow band on the palatines, and m a band
pointed behind rounded anteriorly on the tongue (in a specimen 11 inches long). Fins — dorsal spines of moderate
strength, the fourth being the longest, and equal to two-thirds of the length of the head, from it they gradually
decrease to the last which is two-thirds as high as the first ray, whilst the soft portion is slightly lower than
the third spine : pectoral nearly as long as tlie head : second anal spine a little the strongest, but not quite so
long as the third which equals the length of the eye : caudal lunated. Scales — in oblique and sinuous rows above
the°latei-al-line as far as the end of the dorsal fin, beyond which as well as below the lateral-line they are
horizontal. Colours — ^j-ellowish-red along the back, becoming rosy below the lateral-line : olive stripes follow
each row of scales above the lateral-line and brilliant yellow ones those below it. Fins orange, dorsal, anal, and
tips of caudal margined with white. Sometimes, but not invariably (especially at Madras), a broad black band
passes from the eye to above the centre of the caudal fin, and in such specimens the olive stripes in the upper
third of the body are nearly black.

Rahitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, and beyond. The specimen figured is 7 inches in
length.

27. Lutianus Madras, Plate XIV, fig. 3.
Lidianus lutianus, Bl. t. 245 ; Bl. Schn. p. 324; Blacker, Lutjani, p. 27, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxxvi, f. 3.
Liitjanus Blochii, Lacep. iv, pp. 178, 210.*

Mesoprion lutjamts, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 479 ; Kner, Novara Pische, p. 37.

Mesoprion Madras, Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 446 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 44 ; Gunther, Catal. i, p. 200 ; Day, Fish.
Malabar, p. 14.

TLutjanus rangus, Bleeker, Bali, p. 154, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxi, fig. 3, Lutjani, p. 59.

B. vii, D. ^^i^, p. 16, V. 1/5, A. 3?^, C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. r. U, L- tr. 6/16.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total length, ^yes— diameter 1/3 to
2/7 of lengfh of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. The depth of the preorbital
equals about half the leng-th of the eye : dorsal profile more convex than that of the abdomen. The ma.xilla
reaches to below the front tliird of the orbit. Vertical Iknb of preopercle not emarginate, its angle slightly pro-
duced and rounded having an oblique lower limb, the whole being serrated, most coarsely so at its angle : no
interopercular knob : opercle with two points, the lower most distinct. Tee^/t— rather large cm-ved canines in
the upper jaw, and an outer row of curved canine-like teeth in either jaw : villiform ones on the palate cither in
a lanceolate patch or else in a triangular spot prolonged posteriorly in the median line : in a band on the
palatines, also a patch on the tongue. Fins— dorsal spines moderately strong, increasing in length to the fourth,
which equals that of the postorbital portion of the head, they subsequently decrease to the last which is rather
above half the same length : soft portion of the fin romided, its height being equal to one-tliird of the length of
its base, and being much lower than the spinous. Pectoral pointed, nearly as long as the head but not reaching
to above the anal spines : ventral reaches two-thii-ds of the distance to the anal spines, the second of which is as
strong as the third but slightly shorter, its length not being quite equal to the diameter of the eye ; soft portion
of the fin as high in front as it is long at its base, its last ray half the height of its first, lower edge of the fin
straight : caudal emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows above and horizontal ones below the lateral-line, they
extend forwards to between the centre of the orbits. Colours — roseate, with oblique line above the lateral-line,
but which to below the first four dorsal spines are sinuous, below the lateral-line the sides and abdomen are
yellow, with narrow red horizontal bands. One specimen captured December 1869, had a lateral band as seen
in L. vitta.

Bleeker's figure of L. ranrjus appears to resemble this fish, but the upper surface of the head is said to
be scaleless.

Ealitat. — From the Seychelles through the Indian seas to the Malay Archipelago, attaining about a foot
in length.

28. Lutianus decussatus, Plate XIV, fig. 4.

Mesoprion decussatus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 487; Bleeker, Perc. p. 43; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 210; Kner,
Novara Fische, p. 34.

Mesoprion tlierapon, Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1869, p. 514.

Iiutjwnus decussatus, Bleeker, Ternate, p. 233, and Lutjani, p. 79.

B. vii, D. ^L, p. 1.5, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 50-54, L. r. ^»f|«, L. tr. 6-7/17, Cajc. pyl. 3.

Length of head 4/15 to 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total length. J57(/(?s— diameter
1/4 to 2/9 of length of head, 1^ diameter from end of snout, and neariy 1 apart. Snout pointed, lips rather
thick : depth below the orbit to edge of the upper jaw equal to 1 diameter of the eye. The maxilla reaches

* Lacepede describes his fish, p. 178, as having D. f^, and the general colonr white: ^the back ysUowish, and above the lateral-
line blue transverse bands, &c., he subsequently, p. 210, considers his fish identical with Bloch's.

48 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

to below the front edge of tlie orbit ; jaws of equal lenartli in fi-ont. Vertical limb of preopei'cle -witli a shallow
emargination, having fine serrations which are lost at the angle : a slight interopercular knob. Teeth — one or
two large curved canines in the premaxillaries, and an external row of curved canine-like teeth in the upper jaw,
rather larger ones, less cmwed and wider apart in the lower jaw : villiform ones in a ^^^-shaped band in the vomer,
an elongated one on the palatines, but none on the tongue. Fins — third to fifth dorsal spines the longest, nearly-
equal to the length of the postorbital portion of the head and two-fifths the height of the body, posteriorly they
decrease to the last : soft portion of the fin rounded and lower than the spinous, its longest ray equal to one half
the length of its base. Pectoral as long as the head behind the anterior nostril, or even longer in some specimens :
ventral reaches two-thirds of the distance to the anal. Second anal spine the strongest, visually not cpiite so long
as the third which equals one diameter and a quarter of the eye in length, its first rays highest, its lower margin
rounded : caudal forked, upper lobe the longer. Scales — in oblique rows above the lateral-line, and in horizontal
ones below it : they extend forwards to above the hind edge of the orbit : seven or eight rows across the cheeks.
Colours — whitish, -with sis longitudinal black bands along the body, and sis badly marked short vertical ones in
its upper third, descending fi'om the base of the dorsal fin, the crossing of these two sets of bands leaves large
uncovered whitish spots of ground colour ; a deep black spot at the root of the caudal fin. A white band across
the occiput, which is continued on to the preopercle. Fins greyish, anal with a white front edge.

Hahitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, and beyond. The one figui-ed (9| inches long) is from
.the An damans, where it is a very common species and readily captured with a bait.

Third group — Priacanthina.
Lower jaw prominent. Cleft of mouth almost vertical. Scales ctenoid, small. Caecal appendages few.

Genus, 9 — Peiacaxthus, Cuv. and Val.

Brancln'osfegals six: psezulohrancJiim. Body ohlong and someirliat elevated. Eyes large. Iiower jaw
prominent. Preopercle serrated on both limhs as Well as on the angle v-hich is pirodticed into a flattened spine-like
point ; opercle with a point. Teeth villiform in the jaws, vomer, and palate, none on the tongue. A single dorsal Jin,
vnth nine to ten spines ; anal with three. Scales small and ctenoid, extended on to the snout.

Geographical distrilnifion. — Tropical seas. They do not appear to be veiy common in India, none
have been seen by me in the fresh state : Russell does not figure any. Amongst Sir Walter Elliot's drawings
named by Jerdon are two of this Genus : the first appears to be P. Blochii: the second termed Priacanthus
l-e-v.-aie has D. \^, A. -f^, and is of the same shape but of a much lighter colour : the ventral fin is spotted with
brown, whilst there are two or more large blackifih-brown blotches between the inner rays and the body : the
length of the longest figure is 4i inches.

SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.
1. Friaranthns Blochii. D. \%, A. ■^. Light lake red, the vertical and ventral fins with a naiTow black
edge. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

1. Priacanthus Blochii, Plate VIII, fig. 2.

Anthias maerophthalmus, Bl. vi, p. 115, t. 319 ; Bl. Schn. p. 304.

Priacanthus Blochii, Blecker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iv, p. 456 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 218.

B. vi,D. T^.a^, p. 18, V. 1/5, A. A, C. 17, L. r. 110-120.

Length of head 3/11, of caudal 2/13, height of body 3/11 of the total length. Eyes — large, in the middle
of the length of the head, 1/2 a diameter from the end of snout and the same distance from the posterior end of
the opercle. Lower jaw strongly prominent. The angle of the preopercle provided with a strong spinate
point, it and the vertical as well as the horizontal edges of the preopercle sei-rated : preorbital also serrated along
both its upper and lower borders. The maxilla reaches to almost below the first third of the orbit. Teeth —
villiform in the jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, increasing in length to the
last, which however is not quite so long as the rays ; the first few are roughened anteriorly. Pectoral short,
equalling two-fifths of the height of the body : ventral spine serrated on both edges : anal spines serrated
anteriorly, the third being the longest : caudal cut squai'e. Colours — of a light lak€-red, all the vertical as well
as the ventral fins having a naiTOw black border.

Amongst Sir W." Elliot's drawings is one named Priacanthus? Pasoowa which appears to be this species
from Madras : it wants however the black edge to the fins, which also is very slightly apparent in Bloch's
specimen. Jerdon remarks, (M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 131.) ''Priacanthus. I possess drawings of apparently
two species of this genus. The one is entirely of a fine red colour, and was named Pasuioa, Tam. The other is
reddish above, white on the sides, and the ventral fins spotted with dusky : D. \^, A. Jj-, it was named Eewai."

Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Aii-ica, seas of India, to the Malay Ai-chipelago. The figure is from a
specimen in the British Museum collection, 8-^ inches in length.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 49

Fourth Group — Apogonina.*

Form of lody more or less elevated and compressed. Opercles mostly denticulated or armed. Cleft of
mouth oblique or even nearly vertical. One or two dorsal fins.

Genus, 10 — AMBASSlSjf (Comm.) Guv. and Val.

Chanda, pt. Ham. Bucli. : UamiUonia et Amhassus, Swains. : Bor/oda, Paramhassis, et Pseudambassis,
Bleeker.J

Branchiostegals six : pseudohrcmchicB well developed. Body compressed, more or less diaplianous. Lower limb
of preopei-cle loitli a double serrated edge : opercle tvithout prominent spine. Villiform teeth on jaws, vomer, and
palate, sometimes on the tongue : canines rarely present. Two dorsal fins, the first with seven serines, the anal imth
three: a forwardly directed recumbent spine in front of the base of the dorsal fin. Scales cycloid, of moderate or
small size, frequently deciduous. Lateral-line complete, interrupted, incomplete or absent.

Geographical distribution. — From the Red Sea, and East coast of Africa, through the seas of India and
Malay Archipelago to North Australia and even beyond. Some are exclusively found in fresh water.

Uses. — Although this genus consists of little bony fishes, whicli rarely exceed six inches tn length, and
are generally far less, still they have their economic uses. The poorer classes eat them, they are extensively
consumed by the larger fishes, fonning much of their sustenance during the di-y months of the j'ear, whilst owing
to their formation they are easily dried without the emplovment of salt. Buchanan observes of his genus
Chanda, which is mostly composed of species of ylHi6as6'is, that they "are very small, and of little value, although
in many places abundant and used in considerable quantities : but as food they are insipid, and filled with small
bones, for which defect then- size does not compensate." Cantor remai-ks that the "species of Apogon and
Chanda are of little value as articles of food. At Pinang, they, as well as numerous other small fishes, the daily
residue of the market, are used as manure."

Some difficulty exists in ascertaining the species of tlois, genus to which a specimen belongs, and for the
following reasons. The comparative length of the second or third dorsal spine to that of the body often differs
in accordance with the size of the specimen : and local variations on this point seem to exist. The number of
the soft rays is not constant. Scales are distincth' apparent in the adult of species in which thej^ are hardly
visible in the very young. The lateral-line is subject to vai-iation. Colours likewise are not constant, but the
character least subject to change appears to be the serrations on the sub- and inter-opercles, tlie preorbital, and
around the orbit, but those on the vertical border of the preopercle are inconstant in some species.

SYNOPSIS OP SPECIES.

1. Ambassis nama. D. 7/y^'.Yy, A. t^-tt- Blunt serrations along horizontal limb of preopercle and on pre-
orbital. Large curved canines in lower jaw. Yellowish-olive with a dark shoulder mark. Fresh waters of India,
Assam, and Burma.

2. Ambassis ranga. D. 7/ tt'tt' -A- TT-Te"' ^- r- 60-70. Vertical limb of preopercle serrated or entire,
both edges of its lower limb and preorbital serrated. Golden with vertical bands and black margins to the fins
in the young. Fresh waters of India and Burma.

3. Ambassis baculis. D. 7/yL-, A. -f^, L. r. 80. Double lower edge of the preopercle serrated, also the
preorbital and upper edge of the orbit. No canines. Yellowish-olive with a golden occipital spot. Fresh
■waters of Bengal to the Punjab and Orissa.

4. Ambassis Thomassi. D. 7/yy;y^, A. -g-.'-j-Q, L- 1- 3.5-41. Vertical limb and double lower edge of pre-
opercle and posterior half of interopercle serrated : preorbital also serrated. Silvery, spotted. Malabar coast in
fresh water.

5. Ambassis Comviersonii. D. 71^.^7^ A. -gj^, L. 1. 30-33. Double lower edge of preopercle
serrated, interopercle entire : preorbital also serrated. Silvery. Seas of India.

6. Ambassis nalua. D. Tj-rsl—ii -^- b-Vo' L. 1. 26-27. Double lower edge of preopercle and posterior half
of interopercle serrated : pi-eorbital also serrated. Silvery. Fresh waters of India near the coast.

7. Ambassis interrupta. D. 7jjo\xi, A. -^3^^, L. 1. 28. Double lower edge of preopercle serrated : inter-
opercle with a few denticulations at its angle : preorbital serrated. Second dorsal spine high. Lateral line in-
terrupted. A dark band along either caudal lobe. Andamans to the Malay Archipelago.

8. Ambassis Dayi. D. 7/yu'yy, A. .j^, L. 1. 30. Snout pointed. Vertical limb of preopercle mmutely
serrated : its double lower border more coarsely so, also the posterior half of the interopercle and the preorbital.
Malabar.

* Bleeker places tbe Amhassmi or Boriodlni distinrt from this {rroup of Aiwgonini : Klunzinger has a Familj- Amlassoidd with
a group of Aporjonini, -Khicti together equal the above " fourth group."
t Gu-nas-si, Mugh.
} Bleeker's genera of his Bogodini are as follows : —

1. Ambassis. Preorbital serrated : teeth small : scales 30-46 : dorsal and anal rays. 8-11."

2. raramhassis. Preorbital seiTated : outer row of teeth in premaxillary enlarged, rather widely separated, and almost de-
veloping canines : scales of medium or small size : dorsal and anal rays 9-11.

3. Pseudambassis. Strong teeth in premaxillary, dorsal fin 12-14 rays, anal 14-17.

4. Bogoda. Preorbital entire. Strong teeth in jaws, but moie obtuse and conical, with a slight outward direction: dorsal and
anal fins many rayed : scales small.

H

50 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

9. Ambassis gyinnocephalus. D. 7/s-to. -^- t-to. L. 1. 27-29. Double lower edge of preopercle serrated :
interopercle entire : preorbital serrated : two rows of scales on suborbitals. Lateral-line interrupted. Silvery,
with a burnished lateral band. Seas of India, ascending estuaries and rivers.

10. Amhassis undcpnia. D. 7/-5-_V<y. -^- ¥-ro' ^- 1- 27-28. Double lower edge of preopercle serrated :
interopercle entire : preorbital serrated : one row of scales on the suborbitals. Lateral-line entire. Silvei-y, with
a burnished lateral band. Seychelles, Andamans, to the Malay Archipelago.

Ainono-st the preceding 10 Indian species, the interopercle is serrated in A. TJiomassi, L. 1. 35-41 ; ^1.
naliM, L. 1. 27-28; A. interrupta, L. 1. 28 and an interrupted lateral-line, and A. l)mji,h. 1. 30. The sis which
have the interopercle entire are, .4. woTOa with curved canines: ^. ?-a/i(/((, L. 1. 00-70: A. haculis, 1j. 1.80: A.
Commersonii, L. 1. 30-33: A. ijijmnocephalus, L. 1. 27-29, and an interrupted lateral-line, and A. iirotcenia,!!. 1. 2.'^.

1. Ambassis nama, Plate XIV, fig. -5.

CJianda nama, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 100, 371, pi. 39, f. 37.
Chanda pliida et hogoda, Ham. Buch. 1. c. pp. Ill, 371.

Amhassis nama, phula et hoyoda, Cuv. and Val. ii, pp. 18-5, 186, 187 ; Day, Proc. Zuol. Soc. 1869, p. 298.
Amhassis ohlonga, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 18.5 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 228.
/Amhassis Indica, McClell. Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist, ii, p. 585.
Bogoda nama, Bleeker, Beng. en Hind. p. 89.
Amhassis hogoda, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 228.

Mucknee and Ghed-du-ah, Punj. : 8on-dah, Assam. : Pud-da and Ptd-tu-lah, Sind. : Ak-Jcu-rati, Tel. :
Buck-ra and Pom-pi-ah, N. W. Prov. : Cart-kana and Goa-chappi, Ooriah.

B. yi, D. 7 I „'Ty, P- 13, V. 1/5, A. „3^, G. 17.

Length of head 1/4 to 2/9, of caudal 1/4 to 2/9, height of body from 4/11 to 1/3 of the total length.
]i]yes — diameter aboiit 1/3 of length of head, 2/3 to 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Body
compressed, the dorsal and abdominal profiles equally convex, a considerable rise from the occiput to the base of
the first dorsal fin. Lower jaw much longer than the upper. The maxilla reaches to below the anterior third
of the orbit. Preorbital with three denticulations along its posterior-superior margin : also a denticulation
behind them at the middle of the front edge of the orbit, and another at its posterior-superior angle. Vertical
limb of preopercle entire, except near its angle, where there are two or three denticulations which become
blunted with age : the double border, very slightly denticulated at its lower edge in the young, often entire.
Sub- and inter-opercles entire. Teeth — two or three large and crooked canines directed forwards on either side
of the symphysis of the lower jaw : an outer and an inner enlarged row in both jaws : fine ones on the vomer
and palatines. Fivs — dorsal spines of moderate strength, a recumbent one anterior to the fin, the second spine
the longest (in a few specimens the third) and equal in length to the head behind the anterior edge or middle of
the eye, or to about half the height of the body below it, the seventh dorsal spine somewhat longer than the sixth :
the spine of the second dorsal as long as the first ray, the rays gradually decrease in height : ventral reaches a
little beyond the anus but not so far as the anal fin : the third anal spine the longest and strongest equalling the
height of the longest in the dorsal fin : caudal deeply forked, the lobes of equal length. Scales — minute,
scarcely visible on the head ; in young specimens captured from stagnant pieces of water, the mucous often causes_
the scales to be overlooked. Lateral-line — is always indistinct, in some specimens it is entire, in others it ceases
after proceeding a short way, or it may even be absent. Pseudohranchice — well developed. Colours — yellowish-
olive covered all over with minute black dots which on the shoulder are collected into an oblong patch, having
its longest diameter vertical : summit of the head and top of the eyes black. Pins orange, the upper half of the
first dorsal deep black : a dark upper edge to the second dorsal : caudal dark with a light outer margin : anal
v\ath a black mark over the bases of the spines. In some specimens taken at Hurdah, in Bombay, the caudal
was black tipped.

This fish shows considerable local variations, which have caused its being described under more than one
name. Buchanan observed of the phula, that it is "devoid of scales," " strongly resembles the 7uima,hi\t
seldom exceeds two inches," " nor indeed, excejit in the number of the rays which support the fins, is there any
considerable difference between the two species." In nama, D. 7/^, A. f\- : m phida, D. 7/^5-, -A-. tV> are the
numbers he records.

As regards the hogoda, he observes it has 16 soft rays in the dorsal and 17 in the anal fin, and "a long
transparent body devoid of scales," " but that it diflers in nothing remarkable from the two former (nama
and phula) except in the number of soft rays contained in the back and vent fins, and in that contained in the
pectorals, each of which has twelve."

Amongst Buchanan's MSS. di-awings in Calcutta, is one lyV inches long, termed Centropomus
phulchanda, which his notes show to be the phula, and a second 2^ inches long of the hogoda.

Having brought together upwards of thirty specimens from different localities of Intlia and Burma, I find
that this species is subject to variation, but some points remain the same in all. Although the comparative
length of the longest dorsal spine varies, it retains its proportion to the third of the anal, which ajjpears to be
invariably the longest in that fin : the last dorsal and anal rays are divided to their bases, (counting each as 1)
and the following numbers exist in my specimens, D. 7 Ixs-TH-TS-Tr^ ^- tt-Ts -to-tt, certainly the most common is
D. 7/tV, ^- tg : "^'■^*' of course if we count the last dorsal and anal rays divided to their bases as two, which

FAMILY, I— PERCID^.

51

attainincf three or four inclies in

and Verli. Bat.

Buclianan frequently did, it would cause my figures to stand thus D. 7T-ir-ro-TT-Ts. -^- rs-re -tt-ts- In Cuv. and
Val. it is observed that the A. oblonga has D. 7/^^, A. ■^, and the black dots and the shoulder mark appear to
have been absent, but these dots often disappear in specimens which have been long kept, that on the base ot the
anal is generally first lost, and subsequently the others. The variation iu the number of rays has been already
referred to. McClelland observes A. Indica has D. ^ an evident misprint ; he also mentions the depth ot the
body equal to its length.

Habitat. — Throughout the fresh waters of India, Assam, and Burma,
length.

2. Ambassis ranga, Plate XIV, fig. 6.

Chanda ranga, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 113, 371, pi. 16, f. 38.
Chanda lata. Ham. Buch. 1. c. pp. 114, 371, pi. 29, f 39 ; Bleeker, Beng. en Hmd. p
Gen. XXV, t. i, f. 1.

Amhassis ranga et lala, Cuv. and Val. ii, pp. 183, 184.

Ambassis Barlovi* Sykes, Fishes of Dukhun. Trans. Zool. Soc. i, p. 350, pi. GO, f. 1.

Ambassis alta, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 183 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 227.

Ambassis Ma, McClelland, Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist, v, p. 150, t. 4, fig. 1.

Ambassis Jala, Blyth. Proc. Asi. Soc. Beng. 18G0, p. 138.

Chandee, Beng. and N.W. Prov. : Pee-dah, Sind. : Laal-chandee, Ooriah.

B. vi, D. 7/,3lxT> P- 11. V. 1/5, A. „'^, C. 17, L. r. 60-70, L. tr. 13/-.

In the adult, length of head 4/13 to 1/4, of caudal 1/4 to 2/9, height of body 2/5 to 3/7 of the total
leno-th. ^//es— diameter 2/5 of length of head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart.
Dorsal and abdominal profiles both very convex, but the profile over the eyes is slightly concave. The maxilla
reaches to below the middle of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle sometimes entire, more commonly finely
serrated, but in some specimens, especially on the Bombay side of India, and in Burma, rather coarsely so : the
double margin of horizontal limb of the preopercle serrated : sub- and inter-opercles entire. Preorbital with about
six denticuiations on its inferior edge, and a strong one on its anterior superior angle directed towards the eye
and about five more along the upper edge of that bone. Another spine at the middle of the posterior edge of
the orbit, with five more, but decreasing in size along its upper half. Tee^/i— villiform in the jaws, vomer, and
palate, none on the tongue. i'"'»is— second spine of the dorsal equals the distance from the middle of the orbit
to the' posterior end of the head, and is generally as long although sometimes shorter than the thii'd : the
ventral almost reaches to the commencement of the anal : second anal spine of equal strength but slightly
shorter than the thii'd which equals two-fifths of the height of the body above it: caudal deeply forked. In
Bui-ma the second anal spine is comparatively shorter than in Indian specimens. Colours — olive, having adark
mark composed of spots on the shoulder, being the remains of a band present in the young. The margins of
the vertical fins are usually somewhat dark.

In the young, termed by Buchanan lala, the fish is of a bright yellow or orange colour, with tour or fave
dark vertical bands which are formed of fine black dots. The first dorsal is nearly black, the second and the
anal as well as occasionally the ventral have deep black edges. Buchanan mentions yellow spots as sometimes

present. .i • ■ ii,

This species appears to be subject to greater variations in accordance with age than is seen m any otner
species of Ambassis. In examining the highest dorsal spine in comparison with the length of the fish, m 8
" 'b to be as follows :

in the length of the

'■

inches.

inch.

inches.

No. 1, total length

-"-JO

of body

1 :

height of dorsal

spine

3/10

or

H

body excluding the
No. 2 „

caudal fi

1 »

ItV

1) ))

»»

3/10

)j

3|

No. 3 „

lA

ItV

)5 >»

?)

3/10

5)

1/4

No, 4 „

,,

ll^ :

lA:

)i 5.

))

3/10

)>

1/4

No. 5 „

„

2fV

ItV:

,, ,,

5)

4/10

„

4t

No. 6 „

2t% :

2 :

)» .)

)i

4/10

))

1/5

No. 7 „

,,

2/0 :

2 :

)) ))

))

4/10

55

1.5

No. 8 „

3 :

3 .

*^i ■

1» '.

V

9/20

11

y.

l->o. o ,, „ o : ,, ''To • " " " ' ", ' , ," . , /i

IiTcspective of the above, demonstrating how the average proportional length of the dorsal spines to that
of the body decreases -svith age, it is remarkable that in all under U inches in length the second anal spine is
the longest : as their size increases the second and third become of equal length : but in the adult the third is
almost invariably the longer.

Habitat. — Throughout India and Burma, to a few inches in length.

3. Ambassis baculis, Plate XV, fig. 1.

Chanda baculis, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 112, 371.
Ambassis baculis, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 187.

* I find on Sykes' original drawing, Gandreechee, given as the native name of this species, and Chanda ranga, Buch. for
which Ambassis Barlowii was subsequently substituted.

H 2

52 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

Amhassis notatus, Blytli, Proc. Asi. Soc. of Beng. 18G0, p. 138.
Kun(j-(ji, Pvinj. : Nya-lcoun-ma, or Nga-zin-zat, Burm.

B. ^-i, D. 7^, P. 12, V. 1/5, A. -rV, C. 17, L. r. 80.

Length of head 1/4, of caudal 1/4, height of body 1/3 of the total length. Ei/es — diameter 1/3 of
length of head, 1/2 to 2/3 of a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Body compressed : lower jaw
rather shorter than the upper. The maxilla reaches to below the first third of the orbit. Preorbital stronglv
serrated along its lower edge and having a sharp spine directed towards the orbit at its anterior-superior angle
followed by several more along its upper edge. The whole of the upper edge of the oi-bit serrated. Vertical
limb of preopercle entire, the whole of the lower edge of the horizontal limb strongly serrated, and a few
serrations near the angle of its upper edge: sub- and inter-opercles entire. Teeth — villiform in jaws, vomer,
and palate. Fins — second spine of the first dorsal fin the highest and equal to the length of the head
behind the hind edge of the orbit, and rather more than half the height of the body below it ; the seventh
spine rather longer than the sixth. Ventral reaches three-quarters of the distance to the anal. Third anal
spine slightly the longest : caudal forked, lower lobe slightly the longer. Lateral-line — complete, it becomes
straight opposite the first-third of the second dorsal fin. Colours — yellowish-olive : a golden spot on the occiput:
Ijlack along the top of the first dorsal fin : second dorsal and anal darkest externally : front of each anal ray
blackish : caudal dark along its base and also with blackish tips to each lobe.

Buchanan observes that it has "the body short and transparent, and devoid of scales and ■\\-ith a yellow
mark on the nape." It is said to resemble the hogoda in colour, and the ramja in shape. A figure of it exists
amongst his MSS. drawings l-j% inches in length and marked Ceidropomus ? hahrul.

The Amhassis haculis principally differs from the ^1. nama in its form being higher, its lower jaw the
shorter and not crooked to one side, its vertical limb of the preopercle being strongly serrated, and its possessing
uo canine or enlarged teeth in its jaws.

Hahitat. — Fresh waters of Orissa, Bengal, and as far north as the Punjab : also in Burma. The figure is
taken from a specimen ly'^ inches in length, captured at Lahore.

4. Amhassis Thomassi, Plate XV, fig. 2.

Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 369.

Mnllu-cheru, Mai. : Mullu-tharu, Tel. : MiiUu-jubhu, Canarese.

B. vi, D. 7/t-sIt2, P- 15, V. 1/5, A. ^a^, C. 15, L. 1. 35-41, L. tr. 7/17.

Length of head 3^ to 2/7, of caudal 4/17 to 1/4, height of body 1/4 to 1/3 of the total length. Ei/es—
diameter from 1/3 to 3\ of length of head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and 1/2 a diameter apart.
The younger specimens are rather more oval than the adults : lower jaw the longer : a slight concavity ovei-
the orbits, owing to a rise from the nape to the base of the dorsal fin. The maxilla reaches to below the middle
of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle finelj' serrated, its lower double edge more coarsely so especially at
the angle : posterior half of lower edge of interopercle strongly serrated. Lower edge of preorbital with about
nine denticulations, sometimes becoming more numerous (up to 15) and smaller with age, and a raised usually
serrated edge along its upper third, which sometimes becomes blunted with age. One sjiine at the posterior-
superior angle of the orbit (becoming bifurcated \^-ith age,) aud the lower two-tliirds of its margin serrated
(these becoming blunted with age). Teetli — in villiform bands in jaws, vomer, and palate, an outer rather
enlarged row in both jaws, none on tongue. Fins — second dorsal spine strong and nearly as long as the head
without the snout : the ventral reaches as far as the anal spines : second anal spine equals that of the third and
half the length of the head : caudal deeply forked. Lateral-line — continuous. Pseudohranchiai — well developed.
Colours — greyish, spotted -with silvery, there are also brownish basal spots on many of the scales, more especially
along the back.

Hahitat. — The coasts of Canara as low as Cochin : it is found some distance inland even in elevated
localities : it attains to at least 6| inches in length.

5. Amhassis Commersonii, Plate XV, fig. 3.

? Scicena safriha, Forsk. Dese. Anim. p. 53.

? Perca safyha,li\. Schn. p. 86.

Centrojiomus amhassis, Lacep. iv, p. 273.

Amhassis Commersonii, Cuv. and Val, ii, p. 17G, pi. 25 ; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 89 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. .30,
and Ambassis, p. 95 : Giinther, Catal. i, p. 223 ; Day, Fishes of Malabar, p. 15.

Amhassis macracanthus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 30; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 227; Day, Fishes of Andamans,
P. Z. S. 1870, p. 681 (not synonym.)

B. vi, D. 7/^\r, P. 13, V. 1/5, A. ^_Vo, C. 15, L. 1. 30-33, L. tr. 4/9, Vert. 9/15.

Length of head about 1/4, of caudal 2/9, height of body 3j to 2/7 of the total length. Eyes — diameter
1/3 to 2/7 of length of head, 1/2 a diameter fi'om end of snout, and also apart. Dorsal and anal profiles about
equally convex : lower jaw the longer, its cleft verj- oblique, so that when closed it forms a portion of the
anterior profile. The maxilla reaches to below the first third of the orbit. Preorbital rather strongly serrated,
the seiTatures being directed do\^Tiwards and slightly backwards. Vertical limb of preopercle entire, its inferior

9

3t%

— )

7»

3

3iV

'*>

}»

5>

4,

!)

i»

4

•5,

5)

55

4.

6,

FAMILY, I— PERCIDiE. 53

having its double edge sen-ated, two or three coarser teeth being at the angle : lower margin of interopercle
entire. Two or three small and very blunt denticulations at the posterior superior angle of the orbit and in a
line between it and the posterior-superior angle of the opercle. Teeth — villiform in the jaws, in a single
^-shaped row in the vomer, and also present on the palatines : tongue usually with a narrow band along its
centre. Fins — dorsal spines strong, transversely lineated, giving a sen-ated appearance to the second, which is the
longest, and equal to the length of the head behind the front margin of the orbit, or even slightly longer : the
ventral does not extend to the anal : second anal spine the strongest and nearly as long as the tliird, "which
almost equals the third of the dorsal : caudal deeply forked, upper lobe usually the longer. Lateral-line — con-
tinuous. Pseiulohrancldce — well developed. Colours — silvery, with purplish reflections : a bright silvery line from
the eye to the caudal fin : interspinous membrane between the second and third dorsal spines dark.

In examining six specimens of this fish, the following were the proportions of the highest dorsal spine
as compared with the length of the body.

No 1, total length 3^% inches: without candal fin 23% inches: dorsal spine /„ inches or 3f of length of body.

J5 " —10 • " 5) )) 1 " »' 7 55 "

'>_«_ . _s_ Qi

" '» *~10 • )1 5» )) 1 U 1' !' '-'S 5» »1

3-'- • -S- S^

!» " "10 ■ 5? n 51 1 O 55 55 '-> 8 55 55

3_=- • _?_ -^8

55 55 *-* 1 • 55 55 55 10 55 55 'J<f. 55 55

55 55 •-'10 '55 55 55 1 55 55 ^9 5,

The specimens in the British Museum, marked A. Batjanensis, Bleeker, have the preorbital serrated and
not entire as stated in the Catalogue (Vol. i, p. 22-5), and otherwise closely resemble this species.

Hrthitat. — This common species extends from the Red Sea through those of India to North Australia :
it ascends rivers and estuaries, attaining to six inches in length.

6. Ambassis nalua, Plate XV, fig. 4.

Chanda nalua, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 107, 371, pi. 6, f. 36 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 6. ?
Ambassis nalua, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 182 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 29, and Ambassis, p. 94 ; Giintlier, Catal. i,
p. 22.5.

Ambassis Commersonii, Kner, Novara Fische, p. 41.
Kyoung-ma-sah, B\irm.

B. vi, D. 71^1^1, P- 1-^5 V. 1/.5, A. ^:Vo5 C. 15, L. 1. 26-28, L. tr. 3/12.

Length of head 1/4, of caudal 1/4, height of body 2/5 of the total length. Ez/es — diameter 2/5 of length
of head, nearly 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. A great rise in the dorsal profile from the snout
to the commencement of the dorsal fin, but with a concavity over the eyes : lower jaw the longer : cleft of
mouth very oblique. The maxilla reaches to below the middle of the orbit. Preorbital rather strongly seri'ated
on both its inferior and superior borders : two short spines directed backwards at the posterior superior angle
of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle entire, except a few serrations just above the angle, its double edge
on its horizontal border strongly serrated, also the posterior half of the lower border of the interopercle. Teeth —
villifonn in jaws, vomer, and palate, a narrow band of teeth along the middle of the tongue. Fins — dorsal
spines strong, the second the longest and equal to the length of the head behind the front edge of the orbit :
the ventral does not quite reach to the anal : the pectoral extends to above the anal spines, the second and third
of the latter of the same length, and almost equal to the third of the dorsal fin : caudal deeply forked. Lateral-
line — continuous. PseuiJobranchire — present. Colours — silvery, with a burnislied lateral band : interspinous
membrane dark between the second and third dorsal spines : a dark longitudinal band along either caudal lobe.

Cantor remarks, as observed by M. M. Cuvier and Valenciennes, that this species differs from Lufjanus
rjymnocephalus, Lacep. (syn. Sciama safgha, Forsk. ? Centropomus amhassis, Lacep. Ambassis Comiuersonii, Cuv.
and Val.) by its comparatively shorter head, blimter muzzle and greater depth of the body (p. 6). Also in
this species the interopercle is serrated, whilst it is entire in the Ambassis Commersonii*

Sabitat. — Calcutta in fresh and brackish water : Malabar coast and Andamans to the Malay Archi-
pelago.

7. Ambassis interrupta, Plate XV, fig. 5.

Bleeker, Ceram, ii, p. QQQ, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. Ixx, f. 5, and Ambassis, p. 97 : Giinther, Catal. i, p. 226.
Ambassis viacracanthus, Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 681.

B. vi, D. 7/^.Vo5 P. 13, V. 1/5, A. -g-.i^-, C. 18, L. 1. 28, L. tr. 6/8.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 2/7, height of body 2/5 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 2/5 of length
of head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Lower jaw the longer : cleft of mouth
oblique. The maxilla reaches to below the front edge of the orbit. Preorbital with both its upper and
lower edges serrated. Anterior edge of orbit sei'rated and two spines at its posterior-superior angle. Vertical
limb of preopercle entire, the double edge of its horizontal limb serrated : interopercle with four denticulations
at its angle. Teeth — villiform in jaws, vomer and palate. Fins — second dorsal spine nearly half the length of
the body in the adult ; the ventral does not extend to the anal fin : third anal spine slightly the longest :

* In some rare cases the posterior inferior angle of the interopercle has 2 or 3 very badly marked sen-ations in A. Commersonii.

54 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

caudal forked. Scales — a row along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins : two rows on the suborbitals. Laterril-
line — interrupted. Colours — silverj' with a narrow lateral band : second spine of the dorsal bright orange, the
membrane between it and the third black : a dark longitudinal band along either caudal lobe.

As in other species of this genus, the comparative leng-th of the highest dorsal spine varies with age.
and in examining the 6 specimens in the British Museum, I find the following proportions exist.

Total length 2^ inches : of body 2 inches : highest dorsal spine 7/lOof an inch or nearly l/3of length of body.
2^- • 2 • 8/10 2i

- 03

Q 2 ■ 9J_ . Q/10 9

3tV ,, ■■ ,. 2J^ „ : „ „ 8/10

:4

3
93

-4

But the comparative length of the same spine in my specimen from the Andamans is still greater :

Total length I^'l inches : of body l/jj inches : highest dorsal spine y<L or nearly 1/2 of body.
Habitat. — Sea at the Andamans and Batavia : the specimen which is figured was taken at the Andamans,
and is nearly 2 inches in length.

8. Ambassis Dayi, Plate XV, fig. 7.

? Amhassis Malaharicus, (C. & V.) Jerdon, Madr. Journ. Lit. & Science, 1849, No. xv, p. 140.

Ambassis iialua, Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 15, (not H. Buch.)

Ambassis Bayi, Blceker, Nat. Verb. d. Holland. Maats. d. Weten. 3de Verz. Dcel II, No. 2, 1874, p. 95.

B. vi, D.yo^TT, P- 16, V. 1/5, A. yV, C. 16, L. 1. 30, L. tr. 4/—.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal about 4/17, height of body l/S of the total leng-th. Eijes — diameter 1/4 to
2/9 of length of head, 3/4 to 1 diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Snout pointed, lower jaw the longer,
cleft not very oblique. The maxilla reaches to below the middle of the orbit. Preorbital serrated along its lower
border, and one spine at its anterior-superior angle. Vertical limb of preopercle with some very minute
serrations in the largest specimen, its lower limb serrated along both edges : interopercle serrated in its posterior
half : subopercle entire. One spine at the posterior-superior angle of the orbit. Teeth — villiform, with a rather
stronger outer row in the upper jaw. Fins — the following is the comparative height of the second dorsal spine
to that of the body in two specimens : —

No. 1, total length, I^-q inches : without caudal fin lyL inches: dorsal spine -^ inches or 3f in length of body.
9 7 f,-*- 1_2_ 4.1

The ventral reaches two-thirds of the distance to the base of the anal : the second and third anal spines
of about equal length even in the young, but the second is the stronger : caudal deeply forked. Lateral-line —
continuous. Colours — silvery glossed with purple, a broad lateral burnished band : interspinous membrane
between the second and third dorsal spines dark : second dorsal, anal, and caudal stained dark at their edges.

The serrated interopercle and pointed snout at once show its distinction from A. Commersonii and
A. nalua.

This may be Jerdon's A. Malahaririis (C. V.) of which he observes — " Height not a third of its length.
Fin rays D. 7/^, A. f &c. 5 inches long ;" but as this short definition is equally applicable to three or four other
species found in Malabar, and the ifpe appears to have been lost, it becomes impossible to be certain. Bleeker
l.c. observed on this species difiei-ing from A. nalua.

Sabitat. — Malabar coast of India, attaining at least 7 inches in length.

9. Amhassis gymnocephalus, Plate XV, fig. 6.

Ltitjamis gymnocephalus, Lacep. iii, t. 23, f. 3, and iv, p. 216.

Priopis argyrozona, (K. & v. H.) Cuv. & Val. vi, p. 503.

Ambassis JJussumieri, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 181, vi, p. 503, and ix, p. 431 ; Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Astrol.
Poiss. p. 651, pi. i, f. 3 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 30 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 225 ; IJay, Fish. ]\Ialabar, p. 16 ; Kner,
No vara Fische, p. 41.

Chanda Dussumieri, Cantor, Catal. p. 6.

Ambassis Vachelli, Peters, Mon. bcr. Preuss. Akad. Wiss. 1868, p. 255, (not Richards.)

Ambassis gymnocephalus, Bleeker, Ambassis, p. 99.

Chandee, Ooriah,

B. vi, D. 7/^„VTy. P- 15, V. 1/5, A. ■^\-^, C. 17, L. 1. 27-29, L. tr. 3/8.

Length of head 2/9 to 1/4, of caudal 2/7 to 1/4, height of body 2/7 of the total length. J?(/e«— diameter
dependant on age, in the j-oung 2/5, in the adult nearly 1/3 of the length of the head, 1/2 a diameter from the end
of snout, and also apart. Lower jaw the longer. The maxilla reaches to below the front edge of the orbit.
Preorbital with six or seven denticulations directed downwards and backwards on anterior- inferior edge, and a
few serrations on its posterior : tlie double edge on the inferior limb of the preopercle finely serrated, its vertical
limb entire. Sub- and inter-opercles entire. Two or three strong spines directed backwards at the posterior-
superior angle of the orbit, and another rather larger posterior to them, occasionally a small spine on the
shoulder just before the commencement of the lateral line. Teeth — a single row of fine ones in jaws, vomer, and
palate : a band along the centre of the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines strong, the second being nearly or quite as
high as the third, or in a few cases a little longer, the longest is generally two-thirds the height of the body below
it, and the second is vei-y minutely striated on its posterior edge, as is also the spine of the second dorsal, the other
spines are striated aU across : the ventral reaches about two-thirds of the distance to the anal : the third anal

2.

2

3.

-1 o

4.

9J_

-1

5.

2i%

6.

2tV

7.

St^'o

8.

•2tV

9.

2A

10.

3

3/10 :

or

31 i

4/10:

3J

4/10 :

1/4

4'10 :

U

4/10 :

4i

4/10 :

41

5/10 :

4i

6/10 :

4f

5/10:

4f

4/10 :

5f

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 55

spine is longer but not quite so strong as the second, its length equals that of the fourth of the dorsal fin : caudal
deeply forked, its upper lobe slightly the longer. Scales— Uvo rows on the suborbital ring of bones, the lower of
which is much the deeper. Lateral-line — interrupted after about from the eighth to the twelfth scale, in some
specimens it ceases entirely. Pseudohranchice — well developed. Colours — silvery with a bright longitudinal
lateral band, some brown spots on the upper tliird of the body in its front half : blackish between its second and
third dorsal spines, also a black edge to the caudal.

In examining a large number of these fish the first thing that strikes one's attention is the variation in the
length of the second and third dorsal spines, sometimes one, sometimes the other being the longer. Not only
do they vary between themselves, but hkevsdse as regards their comparative length to that of the remainder ot
the body. The undei-mentioned specimens are taken at random from upwards of fifty in my collection.

inches. inch. inch.

No. 1. total length 1^^, exclusive of tail 1 : height of dorsal spine 3/10 : or 3^ in length of body, excluding the

caudal tin.

1_L •

i> )» -"-lo • " "

1_6_ .

)» 11 -*^ 1 O • " "

1_s .

J» )) -*■ 1 ■ " '»

1_8_ .

I> )J -"-lo • >' "

2_s_ •

9_2_.

)» 31 -a • " "

0_3_.

11 1) " 1 O • 11 '1

2 J- •

,, ., 11 11 '■I O • 11 11

The foregoing distinctly shows how the comparative length of the dorsal spines to that of the remainder
of the body decreases with age, and renders it probable that Amhassis Buruetisis, Bleeker (Boeroo, p. 396), is very
closely allied to this species.

Habitat — East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and China : it attains at least
4 inches in length. Altliough generally captured in the sea or saline backwaters, I obtained a specimen from
the fresh water in the Cochin State several miles inland. <■

10 Ambassis urotsenia, Plate XV, fig. 8.

Bleeker, Amb. and Coram, p. 257 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 224.

1" Amhassis denticulata, Klunz. Yerh. z. b. Ges. in Wien, 1870, p. 719.

B. vi, D. 7(«.Voi P- 13, V. 1/5, A. ^l, c. 18, L. 1. 27-28, L. tr. 3-4/10.

Length of head 1/4, of caudal 1/4, height of body 4/13 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 2/5 of length of
head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 apart. Lower jaw the longer : cleft of mouth very oblique. The
maxilla reaches to below the front edge of the orbit. Preorbital with seven sharp teeth along its inferior edge : a
spine at the posterior-superior angle of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle entire except two serrations just above
its angle : its horizontal double edge serrated, the lower the most coarsely so : sub- and inter-opercles entire.
Teeth — villiform in jaws, vomer, and palate : a small central band at the root of the tongue. Fi/is — second spine
(jf the dorsal longest and eqilal to one quarter or two-ninths of the total length, and rather above half the height
of the body below it : ventral reaches two-thirds of the way to the anal fin : third anal spine usually slightly the
longest but not equalling the longest of the dorsal. Scales — a single row along the suborbital ring of bones.
Lateral-line — curves downwards under the middle of the soft dorsal, but in an interrupted or semi-interrupted
manner. Colours — Silvery with a burnished lateral band : the interspinous membrane between the second and
third dorsal spines black : a dark longitudinal band along either lobe of the caudal.

Dr. Giinther observes, P.Z.S. 1871, p. 655, that Ambassis iniops, Giinther, differs from A. urotcenia,
Bleeker, by the smaller size of the eye, and by the lateral-line being continuous. The diameter of the eye in
A. urotmiiia is equal to the length of the postorbital portion of the head. In A. miops the lateral-line forms a
distinct and continuous curve from opposite the end of the dorsal fins, whilst there are two rows of scales along
the suborbitals.

Habitat. — Seychelles, Andamans, and the Malay Archipelago. It closely resembles the A. gymnoeephahts,
but its lateral-line is entire : it has only one row of scales along the suborbitals and the comparative height of its
body diflers. It appears to be common at the Andamans.*

* Bogota infuscata.

Blyth, J.A.S. of Bengal, 1860, p. 139 ; Dav, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1869, p. 515.

D. lU/Jj, V. 1/5, A. 3/8, C. 17.

Preopercle strongly serrated with large teeth at its angle. A spine directed backwards, apparently on the subopercle. A long
spine on the opercle. Preorbital entire. Lower jaw the longer. Teeth — in jaws villiform. Fins — second anal spine the longest.
Scales — none now visible. Colours — brownish-black, except the fins, which are of a dirty yellowish white.

The specimen is half an inch long and in a very bad condition. The occiput is broken across : in fact it is now too d.amagcd to
admit of a complete description. One thing is evident, that it does not belong to the genus Ambassis, it may be the frj' of a species of
P'riacantlms. For these reasons I refer to it in a note.

Blyth described it thus ; ''a minute species (if adult) j\ in. long by 1^ in. depth, minus the fins : with the tail much less forked

56 ACAXTHOPTERYGII.

Genus, 11 — Apocjon, Lacep.
Atiiia, Gronovius : Apofjonlchth)js, Bleeker : ^lonoprion, Poey : Mloiwrus, Krefft : Archamia, Lepidamia,
and Glossamia, Gill.

Branchiostecjals seven : psewlobranchia present, usualhj u-ell developed. Opercle not spinate. Freoporcle with
a double edne, either or both of v;hicli maij he serrated, crenulated, or entire. Teetit viUiform in the jmvs, vomer, and
palatines, without canines: tonfjue smooth. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with si;v or seven spines: the anal with
two. Lateral-line distinct and entire. Scales ctenoid, as a rule lanje and deciduous, hut occasionalhj they are rather
small. CKcal appendages when present few.

Geographical distribution. — From the Red Sea and East coast of Africa, througli tlie seas of India and
Malay Archipelago to Australia, and even beyond. These small fishes are marine, and are numerous in sheltered
spots" as inside harbours, and some have been captured at the mouth or even a short distance up tidal rivers and
backwaters. In the Indian region they are most numerous off the Sind and Bombay coasts, and Andamtm
islands.

Jjses. — Although small, they are eaten fresh, dried, or salted, by the natives of India.

The fishes of this Genus, after having been primarily divided in accordance with the number of spines in
the first dorsal fin, have undergone various subdivisions, the most popular of which seems to be as regards their
coloui'S. The lono-itudiually or ti'ansversely banded ones, those which possess or are deficient in the caudal
blotch, have been separated on several plans, and although such may possess advantages they appear to be
counterbalanced by marks sometimes disa]3pearing or perhaps never having existed in the specimen. Conse-
quently coloui- will still be omitted from indicating the position of any species, and the number of spines, rays,
and scales employed for this purpose. It seems also questionable whether any considerable value can be placed
upon the serrations about the bones of the head, especially of the orbits, as such appear to be more distinct in some
specimens than in others, and may vary with age.

SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES.

1. Apoqon muUit(eniatus, D. 7/^, A. f, L. 1. 38. Outer edge only of preopercle serrated. Pinkish, with
violet lines, alone the body : fins scarlet, the vertical ones having black borders. Red Sea, coasts of India.

2. Apogon kalosoma, D. 7/i, A, |, L. 1. 3.5-;36. Outer edge only of preopercle sei-rated. Reddish, with a
dark band from the snout to the end of the centre of the caudal fin : another above it : a black spot at the base
of the tail : a dark mark on first dorsal fin, a band along the base of the second dorsal. Seas of India to the
Malay Archipelago.

3. Apogon nigricans, D. 7/-|-, A. -g%, L. 1. 2.">-26. Outer edge of preopercle and shoulder serrated.
Greyish, with dark vertical bands and spots on the head. Madras.

4. Apogon frenatus, D. 7/|, A. |, L. 1. 27-28. Both edges of preopercle sen-ated, also the lower edge of
the orbit. Three or four longitudinal bands along the body : a black spot sometimes present at the base of the
caudal fin : a basal band along both soft dorsal and anal. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

5. Apogon tnniatns, D. 7/|-, A. f , L. 1. 27. Outer edge of preopercle and shoulder bone serrated.
Reddish brown; two vertical dark bands and a dark mark at the base of caudal fin. Red Sea to iladras.

6. Apogon endehatauia, D. 7/^, A. f, L. 1. 2(j. Outer edge of preopercle, lower edge of orbit and
shoulder serrated. A dark median and four or five lateral bands, a dark spot at the base of the caudal fin. Seas
of India to the IMalay Ai'chipelago.

7. Apogon quadrifasciatus, D. 7/i, A. f , L. 1. 2G. Outer edge of preopercle and lower edge of orbit
serrated. No median Isand : two along either .side of the body. Seas of India to the ]\Ialay Archipelago.

8. Apogon fasciatns, D. 7/|, A. f, L. 1. 25. Outer edge of preopercle and shoulder serrated. Four longi-
tudinal bands along the body, one along soft dorsal and anal fins. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and
Ijeyond.

9. Apogon Sarayensis, D. 7/-}, A. f , L. 1. 26. Outer edge of preopercle serrated. Olive, with 4 or 5 narrow
vertical bands on the anterior half of the body : a dark band over the upper half of the free portion of the tail :
a streak from the eye to the angle of the preopercle : numerous brown spots on the head. Coasts of Africa,
India, and beyond.

10. Apogon nigripinnis, D. 7/^, A. |, L. 1. 26. Outer edge of preopercle and shoulder bone serrated.
Greyish, with vertical bands over the body and free portion of the tail. Neither spots nor streaks on the head.
Vertical fins black, except the caudal which is yellow, with a dark edge. Seas of India.

11. Apogon Wassinki, J). 7/^, A. f, L. 1. 25-26. Outer edge of preopercle serrated. Golden, with a
black head, four white longitudinal bands : fins orange. Andamans to the Malay Archipelago.

12. Apogon aureus, I). 7/-J-, A. |, L. 1. 25-26. Outer edge of preopercle serrated. Pinkish, with a broad
black band over the free portion of the tail : vertical fins reddish, with a narrow black border. Red Sea, seas
of India to the Malay Archipelago.

than in B. nama (B.H.) Blocker ; and of a dusky or infuscated hue, having silvery gi]I-covers and a greenish silvery stripe on each
side : fins paler than the bodv, with a blackish tinge on the anterior half of the first dorsal.

D. 10—1-10 ?— A. 3-8 ?
One .specimen only from the Mutla. Presented by Major W. S. Slierwill."

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 57

13. Apor/nn hifasciatus, D. 7/l, A. f, L. 1. 25. Outer edge of preopcrcle serrated. Grey, -n-itli two dark
vertical bands : a black spot at the root of the caudal : Bns dark. Red Sea, through those of India to the Malay
Archipelago, and beyond. . ,

14. Apoqon qlarja, D. 7/i, A. f , L. 1. 24. Lower limb of preopercle crenulated. Yellowish-green above,
becoming redder on the abdomen : scales dotted at their edges, with a pearly spot in their centres formmg three
light stripes : a dark interorbital band : upper half of first dorsal and edges of second dorsal and caudal bla^-k.
Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

15. Apogon auritus, D. 7/i, A. f, L. 1. 23. Preopercle entire. Spotted and marbled with brown: a
circular black spot on the opercle surrounded by a narrow white ring. Red Sea, through seas of India.

IG. Aporion Ellloti, D. 7/i, A. |- , L. 1. 26. Outer edge of preopercle and lower edge of orbit serrated.
Golden : upper half of first dorsal black, a similar coloured band along the centre of the second dorsal and anal :
soft dorsal and anal with black edges. East coast of Africa, seas of India to Japan.

17. Ajjogon maculosus, D. 7/^-, A. -f. Brown, with foui' rows of darker spots along either side : fins
brown, dotted with black. Seas of India. _

18. Apogon macropterus, D. 6/i, A. tt'tt, L. 1. 22-26. Outer edge of preopercle serrated. White, with
pinkish reflections : a black spot at the root of the tail. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago.

19. Apogon Sangiensis, D. 6/a, A. |, L. 1. 25. Outer edge of preopercle sen-ated. Golden tmged
with red : a wide band from the snout thi-ough the eye to a little below the shoulder : a spot on the side of the
fi-ee portion of the tail. Upper half of first dorsal black. Andamans to the Malay Archipelago.

20. Apoqon hyalosoma, D. 6/1, A. |, L. 1. 2-4-25. Outer edge of preopercle serrated. Olive, with a
spot on either side of the tail : fins gi-ey, blackish between the second and third dorsal spines. Seas of India
to the Malay Archipelago.

21. A23ogon orbicularis, D. 6/|, A. |, L. 1. 22. Outer edge of preopercle and shoulder bone serrated.
Olive-brown, a dark zone round the body from in front of the dorsal fin to behind the ventrals : head with black
spots : ventrals nearly black. Andamans, to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

22. Apoqon Ceramensis, D. 6/i, A. |, L. 1. 21. Outer edge of preopercle serrated. Greemsh-brown,
with some dark spots on the head : a dark band from the eye to the root of the caudal fin, where it ends m a
black si^ot. Black between the second and thii-d dorsal spines. Nicobars to the Malay Archipelago.

1. Apogon multitEeniatus, Plate XVI, fig. I.

Ajmgon multitcmiatus, (Ehren.) Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 159 ; Klunz. Fische d. Roth. Meeres, Verh. z. b. Ges.
Wien, 1870, p. 45, (not Bleeker).

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. f , C. 17, L. 1. 37-38, L. tr. 31/12.

Length of head 3/10, of caudal 2/11, height of body 2/7 of the total length. S//es— diameter 2/7 of
lenoih of head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and 4/6 of a diameter apart. Jaws of about equal length,
the^maxilla reaches to rather behind the middle of the orbit. The outer edge of both the vertical and horizontal
limbs of the preopercle finely and nearly evenly serrated : shoulder bone and edges of orbit entu-e : a small
flat opercular spine. Teeth— yiWiiovm in jaws, vomer, and palate. F/jas— dorsal spines stout, the third and
fourth are the highest, and equal in length to the postorbital portion of the head, or 21 in the height of the
body ; second dorsal nearly two-thirds as high as the body, its upper edge nearly straight : pectoral rounded,
reaching to above the anal spines : ventral not reaching the anal, the rayed portion of which latter fin equals m
heio-ht that of the second dorsal : caudal slightly emarginate. Lateral-line— tubes very arborescent. Psendo-
hra)ichi<c—-we\l developed. Free portion of tail about as high at its base as it is long. Colours— oi a slaty tinge
along the back, becoming reddish on the head, sides, and abdomen : violet lines along the body, narrower than
the ground colour, between the rows of scales, but which are most apparent after death. Fms, dorsal scarlet,
black along its base, between the last two spines, and in its upper three-fourths : second dorsal scarlet, with a
light edge and black tip : caudal scarlet, also with a light edge and black tip : pectoral and ventral scarlet :
anal as second dorsal. Eyes scarlet in their anterior halves, with some black markings.

Dr. Bleeker having been good enough to compare my figure of this species with A. Noordzieki, observes
that it appears to be distinct. The latter has the head more pointed, the profile fi-om the snout to the dorsal a
little concave, the rostro-ventral one less concave, and the cleft of the mouth less oblique.

Habitat.— One specimen 5| inches in length was obtained in Madras, AprU 3rd, 1867 : and two more in
Bombay, April, 1874, one of which latter is figured. This is the species of which Jerdon remarks (M. J. L. and
S. 1851, p. 129) : " Glieaodipterus. a species apparently belonging to this genus was once brought me without a
name— its colours were reddish, with longitudinal brown lines, fins bright pink, edged with blackish. D. 6, 1-9.
A. 2-8." A figure exists amongst Sir W. Elliot's drawings.

2. Apogon kalosoma, Plate XVI, fig. 2.

Bleeker, Banka, p. 448 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 240.

Lepidamia kalosoma, GUI, Catal. Fish. Nat. Hist. Soc. Phil. 1863, p. 81.

Aniia kalosoma, Bleeker, Apogonini, p. 16.

B. vii, D. 7/1 P. 15, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. I. 35-36, L. tr. 3/13.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/5, Leight of body 2/7 of the total length. iJ^/es— diameter 2| to 2f in

58 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

the leno-th of head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Jaws of abont equal length, or the lower
slightly the longer': the maxilla reaches to below the middle of the orbit. Preopercle having both its vertiral
and horizontal limbs finely and evenly sen-ated along their outer edges : no serrations on the shoulder bones.

Teeth villiform in the jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the two first short,

the third and fourth of nearly the same height and equal to half the length of the head, first spine of second
dorsal two-thii-ds as high as the rays, and equalling the longest in the first dorsal fin : the pectoral reaches to
over the anal spines : the caudal slightly emarginate. Lateral-line — tubes well developed, with small lateral
branches. Colours — reddish, more especially over the head : a dark band proceeds from above the eye and
passes to the upper edge of the free portion of the tail : a second from the snout goes through the eye to the
base of the caudal fin where there exists a large black spot, it is subsequently continued along the middle of the
caudal fin : a third baud passes from the lower edge of the eye to the end of the base of the anal fin. Fins
reddish, the front half of the first dorsal and the iipper portion of its last half black, the remainder scarlet. _ A
black band along the base of the second dorsal and anal : second dorsal, anal, and caudal, scarlet with black tips.
H(iZ/('ia^— iladi-as to the Malay Archipelago. The specimen figured was captured at Madras, April 3rd,
1867.

3. Apogon nigricans, Plate XVI, fig. 3.

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 13, V. 1/5, A. ^%-, C. 17, L. 1. 25-26, L. tr. 2/7.

Length of head 3J, of caudal 1/4 to 2/9, height of body 3^ in the total length. i;.?/e.5— diameter 1/3 of
lentHh of h'ead, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Dorsal profile more convex than
that of the abdomen. Lower jaw slightly the longer : the maxilla readies to below the middle of the orbit.
Both the vertical and horizontal limbs of the preopercle finely serrated on their outer edges, shoulder also serrated,
orbit entire. Tedh — villiform in jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — dorsal spines rather weak, the first two short,
the third nearly as long as the fourth, which is rather more than half as long as the head. The spine of the
second dorsal much higher than the third of the first dorsal and the rays much more elevated than the spine,
being equal to 4/5 of the height of the body : pectoral and ventral both reach as far as the anal, the spine_ of
which is half as high as the body, and the rays as long as those of the dorsal : caudal notched. Free portion
of tail longer than it is high at its base. Lateral-line— nt^a^vXy straight, tubes laterally expanded at their bases.
Colours — gi-eyish shot with yellow, several badly marked vertical dark bands narrower than the ground colour
exist on the body and over the free portion of the tail. Head covered with dark brown spots, some of which have a
light centre : opercles with purplish reflections : no streaks on the jaws or head. The whole of the body finely
spotted with brown. Vertical tins black : pectoral with a dark base.

Habitat. — Madras.

4. Apogon frenatus, Plate XVI, fig. 4.

Val. Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 1832, p. 67, pi. iv, f. 4 : Bleeker, Amboina, p. 25 , Giinther, Catiil. i,
p. 241, and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 19, pi. xix, f. A.

Apogon vittiger, Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1833, p. 32.

Apogon vielanorhynehos, Bleeker, Amb. and Ceram. p. 255, and 1. c. p. 26 (ex parte.)

Amia frenata, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. Ixiv, fig. 2, and Apogonini, p. 42.

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 27-28, L. tr. 2/7.

Length of head 3/10, of caudal 1/5, height of body 2/7 of the total length. i;//es— diameter 1/3 of
length of head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Jaws of about equal
length. The maxilla reaches to below the last third of the orbit. The outer edge of the vertical and horizontal
limbs of the preopercle serrated, its intramarginal crest likewise more or less serrated, also some serrations
along the lower edge of the orbit : none on the shoulder : a small opercular spine, reef/j— villiform in jaw.s,
vomer, and palate. F/ns— first and second dorsal spines short, the third nearly as long as the fourth which is
the highest in the fin, and equals the length of the postorbital portion of the head. Pectoral nearly as long as
the head excluding the snout : the ventral reaches two-thirds of the distance to the anal : caudal notched, upper
lobe slio-htly the longer. Lateral-line— with well developed tubes having a small enlargement on either side near
the base of each tube, which becomes arborescent in the adult. Free portion of the tail longer than it is high at
its commencement. CoZowrs— reddish, a dark band passes from the eye to the middle of the caudal fin: a
narrower one from the upper edge of the orbit to the upper part of the caudal on which it is lost near its base :
a third from below the eye to the lower portion of the caudal. A black band along the bases of the second
dorsal and anal : dorsal, caudal, ventral, and anal black tipped. A black spot may be present at the base of the

caudal fin. . , ,r ? -r • j i i

Some specimens of this last variety were showm to me at the British Aluseum, as A. qnailriJasciatHS, but
they are not identical with Cuv. and Val. species ; the type specimen of this latter fisli (3^^ inches long), from
Pondicherry, has only the free border of the preopercle serrated, its intramarginal crest being smooth.
Two other specimens are marked by Valenciennes as A. quadrifasciatus from Bourbon, and are similar to the

Pondicherry one. -i k • • i i i

Pristiapogon frenatus, (C.V.) Klunz. Fische R. M. Verb. z. b. Gcs. Wien. 18^0, p. /15, is considered by
Giinther to be this species; by Bleeker to be Amia or Apogon melanorhgnchu:-, Blkr. (ex parte), being

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 50

distinguished from A. frenatv.s by its higher body (3| to 1/4 in the total length) a serrated shoulder bone, a
smooth intramarginal edge to tlie preoperde, and a black spot at the base of the caudal fin, &c.
Habitat. — Mauritius, seas of India to the Malay Ai-chipelago and beyond.

5. Apogon taeniatus, Plate VIII, fig. 4.

?Apoyon tcPMkdus, (Ehrenb.) Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 159; Riipp. Atl. p. 48, and N. W. Fische, p. 87 ;
GiJnther, Catal. i, p. 234.

Apogon tceniatus, Klunz. Fische R. M. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 44.

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 27, L. tr. 2/8.

Length of head S^, of caudal 2/9, height of body S^ in the total length. Sz/e;— diameter 2/7 of
lentrth of head, nearly one diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Jaws of equal length : the
maxilla reaches to below the last third of the eye. The outer edge of both the vertical and horizontal limbs of the
preopercle, and the shoulder bone serrated ; orbit entire. A flat opercular spine. Teei/t— villiform in_ jaws, vomer,
and palate! Fin.s — first dorsal spines rather strong, the fourth being the longest and equal to 2^ in the height
of the body : soft dorsal much higher than the spinous, being equal to 3/5 of the height of the body, its upper
edo-e as well as the outer one of the anal slightly rounded : last dorsal and anal rays divided to their bases.
Pectoral as long as the head behind the middle of the eye : ventral slightly longer and reaching the anal :
caudal forked." Lateral-line — tubes arborescent, most distinctly so anteriorly. Free portion of tail rather
longer than it is high at its base. C'oZoiira— reddish-brown shot with gold, having a black liand from the bases
of the first three dorsal spines to the axil of the pectoral fin : a second from the middle of the second dorsal to
the commencement of the anal fin : a small black spot near the end of the lateral-line : inner third of
ventral nearly lilack : a narrow dark band across the soft dorsal fin.

This species is evidently closely allied to A. nirjricans.

The British Museum has received a specimen of this fish determined as above by Dr. Klunzinger. _ In
Cuv. and Val. it is stated to be brownish, with five longitudinal bands. Dr. Klunzinger considers it a variety
of bifasciatus, but the difi"erence between the first dorsal fins in the two has led me to rather leave them as
distinct species. . i ■ j

Habitat. — Red Sea and Madras, from whence the specimen figured (life size) was obtamed.

6. Apogon endekatsenia, Plate XVI, fig. 7.

Apogon endekatainia, Bleeker, Banka, p. 449.

Apmjnn novemfasciaius, Temm. and Schleg. Fauna Japon. Poiss. p. 2, t. ii, f. 2.
Apogon ScMegeli, Bleeker, Japan, p. 55.

Apogon fasciatus, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 241 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 43 ; Klunz. Fische R. M. Verh. z. b.
Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 713.

Amia endehatcenia, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxxii, f. 2, and Apogonmi, p. ol.

B. vii, D. 7/h P- 13, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 26, L. tr. 2/7.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 2/7 of the total length. i!;//e.s— diameter 2/5 of
lenfrth of- head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. The jaws equal in front : the maxilla reaches
to below the last third of the orbit. Outer edges only of the vertical and horizontal limbs of the preopercle
serrated: edges of orbit smooth : shoulder bone serrated. Teeth — villiform in jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins —
first and second dorsal spines short, the third equal to two-thirds the height of the body below it. Pectoral
equals the length of the head behind the middle of the eye : the ventral scarcely reaches so far as the anal :
caudal slightly notched. Lateral-line— tnhes distinct, those in the first half of the body with lateral arborescent
branches. Colour— o{ a reddish-brown tinge, with a dark band from the upper edge of the orbit to the end of
the second dorsal aiid continued along the upper margin of the free portion of the tail and caudal fin : the
second passes below it to the base of the upper half of the tail, and then curves downwards : the third from the
head along the body below the lateral-line to the tail : the fourth along the upper part of the lower jaw through
the eye to the base of the pectoral fin. Sometimes intermediate, narrower and short dark bands are present
between those described. A black spot at the base of the tail. First dorsal fin black in its front half, a black
band along the centre of the second dorsal, a similar one along the base of the anal and continued to its last ray :
dorsal, caudal, and anal fins with darkish edges.

Habitat.— Yvom the Red Sea through those of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

7. Apogon quadrifasciatus.
Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 153; Bleeker, Perc. p. 28 : Cantor, Catal. p. 3; Peters, Wieg. Arch. 1855, p. 234;
Gunther, Catal. i, p. 239 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 43,

Amia quadrifasciata, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. Ivii, f. 1, and Apogonini, p. 39.

B. vii, D. 7/i P. 14, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 26, L. tr. 2/6.

Length of head 31, of caudal 1/5, height of body 3| to 3| in the total length. %es— diameter
31 in the length of the head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Lower jaw slightly the
lono-er : the width of the head equals half its length. The maxilla reaches to below the last third of the orbit.
Some serrations along the lower edge of the orbit : the shoulder entire. The outer edge of the vertical and

60 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

horizontal limbs of the preopercle rather strongly serrated, its intramarginal crest entire. Teeth — villiform in
jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the first very short, the second scarcely above
one-third of the len"-th of the third, which is about the same height as the fourth and fifth, being equal to half
the height of the body and two-tliirds of the raj's : soft portion of the fin with its upper edge cut square or slightly
emarginate. Pectoral as long as the head behind the middle of the eye : the ventral reaches the anal. Second
anal spine '2/.5 of the height of the body : caudal emarginate. Lateral-line — tubes well developed with a basal
enlargement which in some appears to be slightly arborescent. Colours — a broad brown band passes from the
snout throuD-h the eye and is continued to the end of the caudal fin : another from the upper edge of the eye to
above the fi-ee portion of the tail and continued to the base of the caudal fin. No median band from the eye
to the base of the dorsal fin. A badly developed basal band along the soft dorsal and another on the anal fin :
no black spot at the base of the caudal.

Habitat. — Seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

8. Apogon fasciatus.

Mullus fasciatns, Wliite, N. S. Wales, p. 2GS, fig. 1.

Apogon novemfasciatus, Cnv. and Yal. n, -p. 154: ; Bleeker, Timor, i, p. 1G3; Peters, Wieg. Arch. 18o5,
p. 234 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 43.

Apogon Balinensis, Bleeker, Perc. p. 28, and Verh. Bat. Gen. xxii. Bali, p. i>.

Apogon Aroubiensis, Hombr. and Jacq. Voy. Pole Sud. Poiss. p. 31, pi. i, fig. 1.

Ajjogon fasciatus, Q-aoy and Gaim. Voy. Freyc. p. 344; Gtinther, Fische d. Sudsee, p. 19, t. xx. fig.
A and B.

Amia fasciata, Gill, Proc. Nat. Soc. Phil. 1863 ; Bleeker, Atl. Ich. t. xlviii, fig. 4, and Apogonini, p. 30.

B. vii, D. 7/ A P. 13, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 25, L. tr. 2/6.

Length of head 3|, of caudal 1/5, height of body 3^ to 3J in the total length. Eijes — diameter 1/3 of lengtli
of head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout , and the same apart. The width of the head equals two-thirds of its
length : jaws of about equal length. The maxilla reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit. Outer edge of
preopercle serrated along both limbs, its intramarginal crest entire. Edges of orbit smooth or sometimes a little
rouo-hened : shoulder serrated. Teeth — villitbrm in jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — dorsal spines i-ather stout,
the first short, the second about half as high as the third which is the longest and equal to two-thirds of the height
of the body, and nearly as high as the rays : soft portion of the fin with its upper edge oblique. Pectoral as long
as the head behind the middle of the eye : the ventral docs not reach the anal: caudal emarginate. Lateral-
line — tubes distinct, with arborescent lateral projections. Colours — reddish-brown with four lateral longi-
tudinal bands, the third of which commencing at the snout passes through the eye to the centre of the base of
the caudal fin, along which it is sometimes continued to its termination, this band is usually edged below by a
narrow white one commencing at the pupil of the eye. The second and fourth bands may either end at the
upper and lower edges of the base of the caudal fin, or be continned along it m a converging direction forming
an arch near the end of the fin. A dark band runs along the first dorsal fin, and is continued as a black band
alone the middle or base of the second dorsal : the anal hq,s also a basal band.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

9. Apogon Savayensis, Plate XVI, fig. 5.

Apogon savayensis. Giinther, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. G-JG, and Fische Sudsee, p. 21, t. xix, fig. B.

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 12, V. 1/5, A. -|, C. 17, L. 1. 26, L. tr. 2/6.

Length of head 3j, of caudal 1/5, height of body 3-^- to 3i in the total length. Eijcs — diameter 2/5 of
length of head, 1/3 of a diameter from end of snout, and 1/2 a diameter apart. The head is very slightly longer
than hio-h : lower jaw rather the longer. The rise from the snont to the dorsal fin is not considerable. The maxilla
reaches to below the last fourth of the orbit. Vertical and horizontal limbs of preopercle serrated in their outer
edo-es. Shoulder bone crenulated or entire : edges of orbit smooth. Teeth — in viUiform bands in jaws, vomer,
and palate. Fins — dorsal spines weak, the first very short, the second short, and the third not so high as the
fourth, which equals the length ai the post-orbital portion of the head and nearly half the height of the body
below it. The pectoral reaches the anal, as does also the ventral : caudal slightly notched. Lateral-line — tubes
well developed but rather short and having a slight lateral enlargement, it forms a moderate curve becoming
straight below the end of the second dorsal. Colours — olive, with four or five naiTOW dark vertical bands from
the first dorsal and fii'st half of the second dorsal descending to the abdomen : a dark band, tliree scales wide,
over the free portion of the tail and only reaching to half a scale below the lateral-line. A black streak from
the lower edge of the eye to the angle of tlie preopercle ; numerous small brown spots on the head and also on
the body, more especially above the lateral-line. Fins grey, the anterior half of the first dorsal black : caudal
with a dark edge externally margined with white.

Habitat. — Coast of Africa, seas of India and beyond, attaining to at least 3 inches in length.

10. Apogon nigripinnis, Plate XVI, fig. 6.
Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 152: Tenim. and Schlcg. Fauna Japon. Poissons, p. 3; Richardson, Ich. China,
p. 221 (not Giinther).

FAIIILT, I— PERCID^. , ^^

Amia nigrijiinnis, Bleeker, Aiogonini, p. 64.

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 26, L. tr. 2i/6i.

Length of head 1/3 to S^, of caudal 2/11 to 1/5, height of body 1/3 to Z\ in the total length Eyes--
diameter 1/3 to 2.\ in length of head, 1/2 to 2/3 of a diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 ot a diameter apait.
No very considerable rise from the snout to the base of the dorsal fin : snout rather elevated, l^ower javv
sli<^htly the longer : the maxUla reaches to below the last third or even hind edge of the orbit. V erticai an i
horizontal limbs of preopercle strongly and evenly serrated along their outer edges : .shoulder-bone serrateci
Teeth— Y\movm in jaws, vomer, and palate, an outer slightly enlarged row in each jaw. i<<)is— dorsal spines
strong, the two first short, and the third not so high as the fourth which equals the length ot the postoib tal
portion of the head and half the height of the body below it. The pectoral does not reach the anal, but
the ventral does : second anal spine l\ diameters of the eye in length : caudal rounded. LateniUm.e---Nevy sligiitij
curved : tubes distinct, having a low lateral enlargement. C'oZo«re— greyish, with a dark vertical band trom in
front of the base of the first dorsal which passes backwards and downwards, increasing m width ana is lost
below the whole length of the pectoral fin : a second goes fi-om the base of the second dorsal to the lateral-lme,
and a third over the free portion of the tail. No black spots or streaks on the head, vertical fins black except the
caudal, which is yellow and has a dark edge. • i • i i i

Cuv and Val. type specimen is in excellent preservation in Paris, and identical with the above._ _

ffaittoi.— Madras, where it is common; it grows to at least S-jSg inches in length. The figure is Me-size.

11. Apogon Wassinki.

Bleeker, Timor, p. 258.

Apogon chrysotcenia ?, Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 682.

Amia Wassinki. Bleeker, Apogonini, p. 38.

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 14, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 25-26, L. tr. 2/7. , , ., r. a- . •>.

Leno-th of head 3i to 3i, of caudal 4i to 4|, height of body 3i in the total length. ^T/es— diameter 2^
to 2i in the length of head, 1/2 a diameter from the end of snout, and also apart. The width ot the head at the
opercles equals If in the height of the body, the gi-eatest height of the head equals its length excluding the
snout. Lower jaw slightly the longer, the maxilla reaches to below the middle of the eye. Vertical and
horizontal limbs of preopercle serrated in their outer edges, other bones of the head and shoulder entire, ^eetk—
villiform bands in jaws, vomer, and palate. Fms— first dorsal spine short, the second halt the length ot the
third and fourth, which are the longest, and equal to 1^ in the height of the body, and l/o less than the longest
ray the spine of the second dorsal is a little shorter than the highest in the first dorsal fin : upper edge ot hrst
dorsal slightly emarginate. Pectoral 4/5 as long as the body is high. Ventral nearly reaching the anal, becond
anal spine equal to half the height of the body, the rays similar to those of the soft dorsal. Caudal lobed. l^ateral-
line— makes a gradual curve, tubes well developed and having rather distinct lateral expansions, especially m
the anterior portion of the body. C'oZomcs— brilliant golden with a black head. A silvery-white median band
exists alons? the top of the head, it divides, one branch proceeding along the back on either side to the
upper half of the tail : a second goes from above the orbit to the middle of the tail : a third through the orbit
to the lower half of the tail : and a fourth from the angle of the mouth to below the base of the pectoral. i*ins

^-pQ 11 Off*

° As mv largest specimen is only If inches in length it is not improbable that it is the young of some
species which in the more adult stage has another name. It appears to agree with Blocker's A. Wassatki, ot
which he procured one specimen 69'" in length. xi, t •

This fish is veiy common amongst the coral-reefs on the Andaman islands. As soon as the '^yater is
splashed they all crowd into the coral, concealing themselves amongst its sticks, apparently afraid that the
splash has been occasioned by some large carnivorous fish.

Habitat. — Andamans and Nicobars.

12. Apogon aureus, Plate XVI, fig. 8.

Ostorhinchus Fleurieu, Lacep. iv, p. 24, iii, t. 32, f. 2.

Dipterodon liexacanthws, Lacep. iv, pp. 166, 168, iii. t. 30, f. 2.

Centropomiis aureus, Lacep. iv, pp. 253, 273. . u' r

Apogon annularis, Riippell, Atl. p. 48, and N. W. Fische, p. 85 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 239 ; Klunz. I'lsch.

Roth. M. p. 713. , ^ ,-o r> 1

Apogon roseipinwis, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 490, vi, p. 553 ; Bleeker, Amb. and Ceram. p. 2oo ; t^uoy and
Gaim. Voy. Astrol. Poissons, p. 649, pi. i, f. 6 ; Peters, Wieg. Arch. 1855, p. 234.

Apogon aureus, Bleeker, Enum. pise. p. 6.

Amia aurea, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. lix, f. 1, and Apogonini, p. 48.

Cul-sillandan, Tam.

B. vii, D. 7/i P. 14, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 25-26, L. tr. 2i'6, Ctec. pyl. 4.

Leno-th of head 2/7, of caudal 2/9, height of body 1/3 to 2/7 of the total length. E//es— diameter 2/5 to
2f in length of head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 apart. The lower jaw slightly the longer : the

62 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

maxilla reaches to below the middle of the orbit. Vertical limb of prcopercle with its outer edge minutely
serrated in its upper half, becoming more coarsely so at the angle and along the outer edge of its horizontal
limb : edges of orbit and shouJder-bone entire. Teetli — villifoi-m, in a single row on vomer and palate. Fins —
dorsal spines rather slender, the first two short, the third not (juite so long as the foiu-th, which equals half the
length of the head and nearly half the height of the body below it ; soft portion of the fin highest, and cut
square or even slightly emarginate, especially in large specimens : pectoral readies to above the anal : ventral reaches
the anus : caudal emarginate. Lateral-line — tubes distinct, with numerous short lateral branches. Pseudohranchicp
— well developed. Colours — body pinkish shot with gold, a rather broad, black band at the root of the caudal
fin over the free portion of the tail : some minute black spots around the jaws, on the upper portions of the
opercles, and on the crown of the head. Fins reddish, first dorsal black tipped ; ventral spine and outer ray
black, and a naiTOW black edge to second dorsal, anal, and caudal. ViU'iety A. roseijjinnis has a violet band
along the base of the anal fin.

In a female specimen 4 inches long, captured at Madras, Januaiy 9th, 18G8, a black band passes through
the eye to the ojjercle, which also has a vertical band of dots upon it : the ring round the free portion of the
tail ends one row of scales below the lateral-line.

Hahitaf. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, through the seas of India to the Malay Arcltipelago. Very
common at Madras up to 5 or 6 inches in length, in June and July they are usually abundant. Specimen
figured life-size.

13. Apogon bifasciatus, Plate XVI, fig. 9.

Riippell, N. W. Fische. p. 86, t. 22, f. 2 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 238 ;* Kner, Novara Fische, p. 42 ; Klnnz.
Fische d. Rothen Meeres, p. 711.

Apofjon trimamlatus, Richardson, Ich. China, p. 221 (not C. V.)

.'' Amia tceniata, Bleeker, Nat. Verb. d. Holl. Maats. d. Weten. 3de Verz. Deel. ii. No. i, 1874, p. 24, and
Apogonini, p. 24.

B. vii, D. 7/i P. 15, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 25, L. tr. 2/7|, Ctec. pyl. 3 (4 Kner.)

Length of head 3j to 2/7, of caudal 2/11, height of body 4/11 in the total length. Ei/es — diameter 4/11
of length of head, 1/3 of a diameter from end of snout, and 2/3 apart. A considerable rise from the snout to
the dorsal fin. The maxilla reaches to below the posterior third of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle finely
serrated in its outer edge, rather more coarsely so at its angle, becoming very indistinct along the lower limb,
the inner edge entire. Shoulder-bone serrated in the young, becoming nearly entire in the adult. Teeth—
villiform in jaws, and in a band on the vomer and palatines. Fins — dorsal spines strong, the two first short,
the third and fourth of about the same height and equal to two-tliirds of the length of the head in the adult
(proportionately higher in the young), or lialf the height of the body beneath : the spine of the second dorsal
strong, and equal to half the length of the head. The pectoral reaches to above the anal spines : caudal
emarginate in the adult, more rounded in the young. Lateral-line — forms a curve in the first part of its extent,
which becomes straight opposite the end of the base of the anal fin : the tubes anteriorly are verj- arborescent
laterally, but less so in the posterior half of the body. Colours — slaty-gi-ey -n-ith bronze reflections : a dai'k
vertical band from the first half of the dorsal fin passing down the side to below the pectoral fin, and a shorter
but similar band from the first half of the second dorsal : a black spot at the root of the caudal. Fins, except
the pectoral, blackish, or with black edges, due to fine black points, which are also spread over the jaws, head,
and very finely over the body.

Habitai. — Red Sea, through the seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago and China. Very common at
Madras up to 6 inches in length. It is very closely allied to A. tceniatus, which latter, however, has a much
lower first dorsal fin.

14. Apogon glaga, Plate XVI, fig. 10.
Apogon (jlarja, Bleeker, Perc. p. 29.

ApogonicJdhjs (jla/ja, Bleeker, Japan, p. 57, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxxiii, fig. 1 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 247.
Amia cjlaga, Bleeker, Apogonini, p. 6G.

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 24-25, L. tr. 2/7.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 2/7 of length
of head, 1 /2 a diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. Lower jaw the longer : the maxilla reaches to below
the last third of the orbit. Both limbs of preopercle entire, but the outer edge of the horizontal limb somewhat
crenulated, its outline being sinuous : the other bones of the head entire, except the lower border of the orbit
which is roughened. Teeth — villiform in the jaws, the outer row in the maxilla rather enlarged, and a few
canine-like ones in the mandible : those in the vomer and palate in a single row of rather larger-sized ones than
exist in the jaws. Fins — dorsal spines weak, the first short, the fourth the highest, equal to the length of the
postorbital portion of the head, and nearly one-foui'th higher than the spine of the second dorsal ; soft dorsal
fin considerably higher than the spinous. Pectoral reaches to above the anal spines. Caudal rpunded. Lateral-
line — tubes distinct, having a lateral basal enlargement. Colours — yellowish-green superiorly, becoming more
roseate along the abdomen : a dark band between the hind fourth of the orbits. The approximating edges of

* Dr. Gunther observes that A. bifasciatus has both the margins of the preopercle strongly serrated, the denticulations on the
inner ridge being coarse, and gradually becoming more so at the angle : vomerine teeth iu a single row.

FAMILY, I— PERCIDiE. C3

the scales liavLng minute black dots, forming horizontal lines, wliicli are most distinct along the back : the
scales in the second and third rows having a pearly white spot at the base of each. Upper half of the first
dorsal black : second dorsal and caudal with black edges. A moderately wide band along the middle of the
second dorsal, which appears to be sometimes spotted with blue.

Habitat.— Madi'SiS to 3| inches in length, as far as the Malay Arcliipelago.

15. Apogon auritus, Plate XVII, fig. 2.

Apofjon awrttus, Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 443 ; Giinther, Fische d. Sudsee, p. 23.

Apoijon pundulatus, Riippell, N.W. Fische, p. 88, t. xsii, f. 4; Bleaker, Ceram. p. 696.

Apugonichthys p)olysti.(/ma, Bleeker, Amboina, p. 484, and Ternate, p. 372; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 240.

Apogonichthys pimctulatus, Bleeker, Arou, p. 36.

Apogonichthys auritus, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 240 ; Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 682.

Amia 2'olystigma, Bleeker, Apogonini, p. 67.

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 12, V. 1/5, A. 7^^, G. 17, L. 1. 23-24, L. tr. 2/0.

Length of head 1/3, of caudal 2/9, height of body 2/7 to 1/4 of the total length. jBi^es— diameter 1/3 to 2/7
of the leno-th of head, 1'2 to 1/3 of a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Jaws of about equal length :
the maxilla reaches to slightly behind the posterior edge of the orbit. Edges of preopercle, also of the other
bones of the head and shoulder entire. Teeth — villiform in the jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — first dorsal spine
very short, the third and fourth the highest, equal to the length of the postorbital portion of the head, and
three-fourths as high as the rayed fin. Pectoral as long as the postorbital portion of the head. Ventral
reaches two-thirds of the way to the anal, the second spine of which last tin is equal to two-fifths of the height
of the body. Caudal rounded or cut rather square. Lateral-line — either ceases under the middle of the soft
dorsal fin, or reappears lower down going direct to the centre of the base of the caudal fin : tubes distinct,
generally with a basal swelling. Colours — body and head spotted and marbled all over with brown. A circular
black spot on the opercle enclosed by a narrow white ring, which is present even in the fry.

Bleeker observes that he formerly considered tliis species as identical with A. punctulatus, Riippell^
A. auritus, C. V. the interrupted lateral line and the distribution of colours being much the same. He now
divides them, as Riippell's fish appears to have a higher body, 4 longitudinal yellow bands over the preopercle, and
only 20 rows of scales.

Having examined specimens taken in the Red Sea and elsewhere, I have not found less than 23 scales
along the lateral-line, and in two specimens from Zanzibar the lateral-line is continuous.

Specimen from Suez, 1* inches long ; height of body Sh in the total length.

M * 1) )? '^T " " "

01

,) . ,) >1 —4 Ti »» 51

)i • n 1) -^/'^ " " 1'

3i

,, • ,) )» "2 " " "

,, . 5) 5» —5 H )J 51

)1 • )1 ?) *^3 " " "

31

,„-»»* 11 i) ^3 " " "

The foregoing measurements lead me to doubt the specific difference between A. auritus from the Red
Sea, and my species from the Andamans which=yl. polystigma, Bleeker.

Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

16. Apogon Ellioti, Plate XVII, fig. 1.

Aporjoningripiimis, Jerdon, M.J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 128, and Giinther, Catal. i, p. 235, and Fische d.
Sudsee, p. 21, (not Cuv. and Val.)

B. vii, D. 7/i, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 16, L. 1. 20, L. tr. 2/0|.

Length of head 3j, of caudal 2/11, height of body 2/7 in the total length. .Byes— diameter 2/7 of lengtli
of head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. Lower jaw very slightly the longer : the maxilla reaches
to below the posterior edge of the orbit.* Vertical limb of preopercle entire, or very finely serrated on its lower
half and outer edge, more distinctly i-ound its angle and on the outer edge of its horizontal limb, there may also
be a few serrations likewise along its inner angle : lower edge of orbit roughened : shoulder entire. Teeth — tine
in jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — spinous much lower than the soft dorsal, its third, fourth and fifth spines the
hio-hest, and equal to two-fifths of that of the body : the second dorsal three-foui-ths as high as the body, its
upper edge and also that of the anal being rounded. Pectoral as long as the ventral, wliich does not reach the
anal : caudal rounded. Pseudobranchice — present. Free portion of tail rather longer than high at its base.
Lateral-line — at tirst arborescent, but posteriorly with a lateral plate-like prolongation on either side of the base
of each tube. Colours — golden, upper surface of head and jaws, also upper portion of oi^ercle with black spots :

* In examining some immature specimens of this fish in the Britisb Museum, I found th.at .at l^'g inches in length, the
diameter of the eye was 2/5 of the length of tlie head, and the maxilla reached to nc.irly below its centre. At :i inches in length, the
diameter of the eye was l/:5 of the length of the head, and the maxilla reached to below the last third of the orbit.

11

Andamans,

]\Iassuah,

ItV

Andamans,

If

2

Zanzibar,

O 7
•^ 1

Andamans,

3

Zanzibar,

H

64 ACANTHOPTERYGII.

a greyish band along the side, terminating in the young in an indistinct lateral blotch by the side of the free
portion of the taO. Fii-st dorsal white, with its npper half deep black : second dorsal yellow, having a black
band along its centre, and a black outer edge : anal likewise with a bbick median band : caudal gi'ey, with a white
band margined with black, and an external white edge.

Habitat. — East coast of Africa, seas of India to China and Japan. Madi-as two specimens to 4 inches
in length. Amongst Sir W. Elliot's di-awings is one of this fish named A. nigripiniiis by Jerdon.

17. Apogon maculosus.

Cuv. and Val. iv, p. 40.3 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. ioG.

B. vii, D. 7/1 V. 1/5, A. f .

Colours — brown, darkest anteriorly, having forir rows of brown spots along either side, but none on the
head. Fins brown, spotted with black.

Habitat. — This fish is said to have come from the seas of India, from whence M. de Ketlitz, a Russian
naturalist, brought figui'e.s (? specimens), and from whom Cuv. and Val. obtained their information.

It is stated to attain thi-ee inches in length.

18. Apogon macropterus, Plate XVII, fig. -3.

(K. and v. H.) Cuv. and Val. ii, pp. 160; Bleeker, Perc. p. 1G8 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 244.

? Apogon Zcyhmicns, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 492; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 2;32.

Apogon argciiteus, Val. Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 1832, p. 60.

Apogon fucatiis, Cantoi", Catal. p. 4; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 244.

Apogon maeropteroides, Bleeker, Banka, p. 724; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 24.5; Playfair, Fish. Zanz. p. 20.

Apogon Bleekeri, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 24.5.

Archamia Bleekeri, Gill, Nat. Hist. Soc. Pliil. 1863, p. 81.

Amia maeropteroides, Bleeker, Amb. p. 280.

Apogon notata, Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 936.

Amia macropterus, Bleeker, Ternate, p. 233, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. Ixviii, f. 2, and Apogonini, p. 72.

B. vii, D. 6/i, P. 13, V. 1/5, A. ^^ (A-tt), C. 17, L. r. 22-26 (Ckc. pyl. 0, Cantor.).

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 3| to 3f in the total length. Eyes — diameter 2/5
to 1/3 of length of head, 1/2 of a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Body rather elongated in
shape and compressed. Lower jaw slightly the longer. The maxilla reaches to below the middle of the
orbit. Angle of the preopercle rounded, the outer edge of vertical and horizontal limbs finely serrated, the
other bones of the head entire. Teeth — villiform in jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — dorsal sjjines weak, the
third the highest and ecjual in length to the postorbital portion of the head, or behind the middle of the eye.
The pectoral reaches to above the third or fourth anal ray : caudal forked. Colours — whitish, having a pink
tinge, fins pinkish : a round black spot on the side close to the base of the caudal fin.

Habitat. — East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. It does not appear to attain more
than 3 or 4 inches in length in India, and is very common at Madras.

19. Apogon Sangiensis, Plate XVII, fig. 4.

Bleeker, Sangi, p. 375 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 235, and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 20.
Amia sangiensis, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xli, f. 4, and Apogonini, p. 56.

B. vii, D. Gllj, P. 13, V. 1/5, A. -j?^, C. 17, L. 1. 24-25, L. tr. 1^7.

Length of head 1/3 to 3J, of caudal 41 to 4i, height of body 1/3 to 3^ in the total length. Eyes—
diameter 1/3 of length of head, 2/3 of a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Jaws of about equal length.
The maxilla reaches to below the middle of the orbit. Outer edge of both vertical and horizontal limbs of pre-
opercle very finely sei-rated, orbital edge rough, the other bones of the head and shoulder entire. Teeth — vUli-
form. Fins — dorsal spines very weak, the third generally the longest and If in the height of the body. Ventral
almost reaches the anal : caudal notched. Lateral-line — tubes distinct, having a lateral basal enlargement.
Colours — golden tinged with red : a wide broviTi band passes from the snout, through the eye, ending on the
posterior edge of the opercle, or else in a black spot a little below the shoulder : a round black spot on the side
of the free portion of the tail close to the base of the caudal fin : a minute black spot on the back, close behind
the base of the last dorsal ray. Upper half of first dorsal black. The anal fin is said to be sparingly spotted
with blue in specimens from the Malay Archipelago.

Habitat. — Andamans to the Malay Archipelago.

20. Apogon byalosoma, Plate XVII, fig. 5.

Apogon thermalis, Bleeker, Perc. p. 27, (not Cuv. and Val.)

AjJogon hyalosoma, Bleeker, Singapore, p. 63, and Amboina, iv, p. 329 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 321 ; Kncr,
Novara Fi.sche, p. 42.

Amia hyalosoma, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. xxxi, f. 1, and Apogonini, p. 57.

B. vii, D. 6/;, P. 12-14, V. 1/5, A. * C. 17, L. 1. 24-25, L. tr. 21/81.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 65

Length of head 1/3 to 3j, of caudal 1/5, height of body 1/3 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 2/7 to
3f in length of head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. Snout rather elevated. Lower jaw slightly
the longer : the maxilla reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit. Both limbs of preopercle serrated along
theu- outer edges, most slightly so on the vertical one : the other bones of the head and shoulder entire. Teeth — •
fine Ln jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the second and thii'd of about the
same length, and equal to 2| in the height of the body, but not so high as the soft dorsal. Pectoral rather
longer than the ventral, which latter reaches two-thu-ds of the distance to the base of the anal fin : soft anal as
high as the soft dorsal : caudal lobed. Lateral-live — tubes distinct, some having a slightly arborescent base.
Colours — olive, with a darkish blotch on the side at the base of the caudal fin : blackish between the second and
third dorsal spine ; fins gi'ey.

Habitat. — Seas of India and Malay Archipelago, attaining at least sis inches in length.

21. Apogon orbicularis, Plate XVII, fig. 7.

Apogo7i orbicularis, (Kuhl. and v. Hass.) Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 155, and vi, p. 495 ; Quoy and Gaun. Voy.
Astrol. Poiss. p. 648, pi. i, fig. 4; Bleeker, Amb. & Coram, p. 254, and Act. Soc. Ned. i, Amboina, p. 28;
Giinther, Catal. i, p. 233, and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 22, pi. xx, fig. D.

Amia orbicularis, Bleeker, Coram, p. 188, and Nat. Verb. Holl. Maats. Weten. 3de Verz. DeeL II, No. i,
1874, p. 19.

B. vii, D. C/^V, P. 12, V. 1/5, A. ^%, C. 17, L. 1. 24-26, L. tr. 2i/7.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/4, height of body 2/5 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 2 J to 2f in the
length of head, 1/2 to 2/3 of a diameter from the end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Lower jaw the
longer : the maxilla reaches to below the middle of the orbit. The outer edges of both limbs of the preopercle
serrated, as is also the shoulder-bone, the other bones of the head entire. Teeth — villiform in the jaws, vomer,
and palate. Fins — second and third dorsal spines slightly higher than the foui-th, two-thirds the height of the
body and in length about equal to the raj's in the second dorsal fin. Pectoral as long as the head excluding the
snout. Ventrals reach the anal fin, the second spine of which last is two-fifths the height of the body, whilst
the rays are similar to those of the soft dorsal. Caudal forked, its three outer rays on either side rather spinate
and projecting. Lateral-line — tubes well-developed. Free poi-tion of the tail slightly longer than high at
its commencement. Colours — olive-brown, a dark zone round the body from in front of the first dorsal fin, and
passing to behind the ventral. Head spotted with black. A cloudy band below the second dorsal fin : free
portion of the tail with some black spots and blotches. First dorsal with some dark spots : ventral nearly black.

Habitat. — Andamans, Malay Archipelago and beyond. The specimen figured (life-size) is from the
Andamans.

22. Apogon Ceramensis, Plate XVII, fig. 6.

Bleeker, Amb. and Ceram. p. 256 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 235.

Amia Ceramensis, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. Iviii, f. 1, and Apogonini, p. 45.

B. vii, D. 6/i, P. 14, V. 1/5, A f, C. 17, L. 1. 23-25, L. tr. 2/7.

Length of head 2>\, of caudal 1/5, height of body Sj in the total length. Eyes — 3j diameters in length
of head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. Dorsal profile rather concave over
the eyes. Upper jaw slightly the longer : the maxilla reaches to below the last third of the orbit. Both limbs
of the preopercle serrated along their outer edges, the other bones of the head and shoulder entire. Teeth —
villiform Fins — third dorsal spine is slightly the highest, and as long as the head behind the middle of the
eye. The ventral does not reach the anal. Caudal notched. Lateral-line — tubes well developed, having lateral
basal enlargements. Colours — greenish-brown with some dark spots on the head : a narrow blackish-brown
band passes from the head to the root of the caudal fin, where it end-s in a round black blotch : in its anterior
half it is margined on either side by a bluish-white streak, which gradually decreases in width : there is a
brownish blotch on the shoulder. The interspinous membrane between the second and third dorsal spines is
black.

Habitat. — Nicobars, fi-om whence Dr. Stoliczka brought the specimen which is figured : it is found in
the Malay Ai-chipelago.*

Genus, 12 — Chbilodipterus, (Laeep.) Cuv. Sf Val.
Paramia, Bleeker.
Branchiostegals seven: pseudobrancMcB well developed. Opercles spineless : preopercle with a double edge, both

* Apogon quinquevittatus.
Blyth. P. A. S. of Bengal, 1858, p. 272.
T>. 13/10, P. 15, A. f, V. 5, L. 1. 2-t, L. tr. 3/10.

Eyes — diameter 2/5 of the vertical height of the head. Form compressed : mouth small. Fins — pectoral reaching beyond
the second lateral band : the posterior dorsal and anal fins projecting similarly a.s far as the base of the tail fin. Colours — four vertical
black bands, a fifth at the base of tall, and the occipital region also of this colour.

Habitat. — Andamans, about 1 inch in length. Unless some typographical error has occurred, this fish having three anal spines,
&c., cannot be referred to Ajiogon.

K

66 ACANTHOPTERTGIT.

ofv)ltk%, or the outer only, may he serrated. Villiform teeth in the jaws, vomer, and palate : ca7i'!nes present generally
in both jaws and lateral canine-like ones. Two dorsal fins separated by an interspace, the first ivith six spines ; the
anal ivith two. Scales ctenoid,* large and deciduous. Lateral-line distinct.

Geographical distribution. — From the Red Sea and East coast of Africa, through tlie seas of India and
the Malay Archipelago to the Pacific. Along the coasts of India they appear to be most abundant ofi" Sind,
and in the Andamans and Nicobars. The specimen of this genus recorded from the Coromandel coast of India,
by Dr. Jerdon, in the 'Madras Journal Literature and Science' (1851, No. 39, p. 129) was, as I have already
observed (p. 57), Apogon multitceniatus.

SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES.

1. Cheihxhpterus Itneatus, D. 6/i, A. |, L. 1. 2(3. Silvery-red with from seven to sixteen narrow black
longitudinal bands, and a dark spot at the base of the caudal fin : first dorsal black between the second and
third spines. Red Sea, East coast of Africa, and Sind.

2. Cheilodtptenis quinquelineatus, D. 6/i-, A. |, L. 1. 25. Similar to the last with five bands. Red Sea,
Nicobars to the Malay Archipelago.

1. Cheilodipterus lineatus, Plate XVIII, fig. 8 and 9 (var. Arahictis).

Perca Uneata, Forsk. Desc. Anim. p. -12, No. 43 ; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 89.
Perca Arahica, Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 1312.

Cheilodipterus lineatus, Lacep. iii, p. 543, pi. xxxiv, fig. 1 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 248 ; Kllunz. Verh. z. b.
Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 717.

Centropomus macrodon, Lacep. iv, p. 273.

Cheilodipterus octovittatus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 163 ; Klunz. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 717.

Cheilodipterus Arabicus, Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 165, pi. 23.

Cheilodipterus heptacona, Bleeker, Perc. p. 29.

Paramia octolineata, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxvii, fig. 2, and Apogonini, p. 75.

B. vii, D. 6/1 P. 13, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 26-27, L. tr. 3|/7|.

Length of head nearly 1/3, of caudal 4| to 1/5, height of body 1/4 in the total length. Eyes — diameter
from 4J to 1/4 in length of head, 1 to Ij diameters from end of snout, and 3/4 to 1 diameter apart. The
maxilla reaches to below the last third of the orbit. Vertical limb of preopercle very finely serrated in its
outer edge, as is also that of the horizontal limb, where however the serrations are coarser and blunter ; the
other bones of the head entire. Teeth — canines in both jaws, and lateral canine-like ones. Fins — dorsal spines
weak, the second and thii'd of the same height and equal to two-thirds of that of the body. Pectoral reaches to
above the anal spines : ventral two-thirds of the distance to the anal. Caudal forked. Colours — silvery-red,
with horizontal bands along the head and body, the number of which appears to increase with age. In Sind
some specimens had only seven, others as many as sixteen. One black band commencing above the snout
proceeds to the base of the first dorsal fin : a second arising on the snout in common with that of the opposite
side just anterior to the upper one and jiasses along the back above the lateral-line to the upper side of the
caudal fin : the third commences on the side of the snout and passes through the eye, from the hind edge of
which about four bands arise and are continued along the body : there are also generally two more from below
the eye. A black spot exists, at the base of the caudal fin, which is surrounded, by a light edge. Fins red, the
first dorsal black between the second and third spines. In adults intermediate bands appear between those
described as existing in the young.

In the variety (fig. 9) which=(7. Araliens, C.V. it is bright yellow around the caudal blotch. The
specimen came fi-om Gwadar.

Habitat. — Red Sta, East coast of Afi-ica, seas of India, Andamans to the Malay Arcliipelago and
beyond.

2. Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus.
Cuv. and Val. ii, p. 167; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 89; Lesson. Zool. Voy. Duperr. ii, p. 237; Bleeker.
Mol. p. 262 ; Klunz. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 716.

Apogon novemstriatiis, Riippoll, N. W. Fische, p. 85, t. 22, f. 1.

Chilodipterus quinqiielineatus, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 248.

Paramia quinquelineata, Bleeker, Bouro, p. 147, Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xlviil, fig. 2, and Apogonini, p. 76.

B. vii, D. 6/!, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 17, L. 1. 25, L. tr. 2/7.

Length of head about 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 2/9 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/3 of
length of head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Vertical limb of preopercle serrated along
its outer edge. Teef/t — generic. Fins — dorsal spines weak, second and third of the same height, and about
equal to half of that of the body. Caudal forked. Colours — with a reddish tinge having five black bands

* Bleeker has separated those sjiecies in which (although their dentition is similar) the seales are smaller and cycloid, and the
caud.il fin convex instead of emarginate, into a distinct genus, Fseudamia.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 67

along the side : and a black spot surrounded by a yellow ocellus at the root of the caudal fin. It otherwise
resembles the last species, of which it might be considered a variety.

Fifth group — Grystina.

Body oblong or elevated. Opercles entire or variously serrated. Cleft of mouth more or less oblique.
One or two dorsal fins.

Genus, 13 — Dules, Guv. mid Val.

Moronophis & Plectroplites, Gill : Paradules, pt. Bleeker.

BrancMostegah six : 2^seudobranc}iice. Eyes of nwderate size. Chin moderately prominent. Preopercle
serrated. Opercle with spines, but destitute of any membranous lobe. Villifonn teeth in the jaws, vomer, and
palatines, no canines. A single dorsal fin with ten spines, having a deep notch between the two last : anal with three
spines. Scales ctenoid and of nwderate size.

Geographical distributio7i. — From the Red Sea and East coast of Africa through the seas of India to the
Malay Archipelao-o and beyond, being found in most intertropical seas, some being said to enter fresh waters.*

Uses. — Owing to their small size, these fishes are of but little economic value.

SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES.

1. Dules marginatus, D. -LA, A. y'^, L. 1. 42. An oblique wide greyish band with an outer white margin
across either caudal lobe : another along the top of the soft dorsal. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and
beyond.

2. Bules argenteus, D. -j-^f q, A. to?tt» L. 1. 52. A central black band on caudal fin and two oblique
yellowish-black ones across either lobe : soft dorsal with a gi-ey band along its upper edge, having a white
outer margin. East coast of Africa, seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

1. Dules marginatus, Plate XVIII, fig. 1.

Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 116, pi. 52, and vii, p. 474; D'Urville, Voy. Pole Sud. Poissons, p. 41, pi. iii, f. 3;
Bleeker, Sumatra, i, p. 573; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 268, and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 24.

Dules malo, Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 479 ; D'Urville, 1. c. pi. iii, f. 4; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 270.

Dules mato. Less. Voy. Coq. Zool. ii, p. 223.

Dules leuciscus, Jenyns, Voy. Beagle, Fishes, p. 17.

KuMia ciliata. Gill, Nat. Hist. Soc. Phil. 1861, p. 48.

Moronopsis ciliatus, Bleek. Arch. Neerl. 1872, p. 376, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxxviii, f. 1, and 1. c. t. xlvi, f. 2.

Paradules marginatus, Bleeker, Ceram. p. 257.

B. vi, D. -La, p. 15, V. 1/5, A. ^, C. 17, L. 1. 42, L. tr. 5/8.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/5, height of body 4/13 of the total length. %es— diameter 2/7 of
length of head, 1 diameter fi-om end of snout and also apart. The maxilla reaches to below the middle of the
orbit. Preorbital very finely serrated along its lower margin, most distinctly so in the young. _ Horizontal limb
of preopercle serrated. Opercle with two spines of which the lower is the longer. Teeth — villiform in jaws,
vomer, and palatines. Fins — dorsal spines moderately strong, the fifth the highest and equal in length to the
postorbital portion of the head, the tenth is longer than the ninth: third anal spine the longest: caudal
moderately forked. Golours — greyish along the back, becoming silvery- white on the sides and abdomen; a
greyish band, having a white tip, across the posterior third of the caudal fin: a similar but darker band,
having a white upper edge, along the top of the soft dorsal : the other fins tinged externally with grey and edged
with white.

Perca ciliata, (K. v. H.) Cuv. & Ya,\.=Percichthjs ciliata, (C. V.) Gunther=this species according to Bleeker.

Habitat. — Seas of India, to the Malay Archipelago and beyond, attaining at least eight inches in length.

2. Dules argenteus, Plate XVIII, fig. 2.

Perca argentea, Bennett, Fish. Ceylon, p. 22, pi. 22.

Dules tainiurus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 114; Bleeker, Perc. p. 49: Giinther, Catal. i, p. 267; Kner, Novara
Fische, p. 47.

? Dules Guamensis, Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 474 ; D'Urville, 1. c. p. 42, pi. 3, f. 1 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 269.

Dules Bennetti, Bleeker, Bengal, p. 36; Peters, Wiegm. Arch. 1855, p. 238; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 270.

Dules argenteus, Klunzinger, Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 730 ; Giinther, Fische d. Sudsee, p, 25,
t. xix, f. C.

Moronopsis tceniurus, (Gill) Bleeker, Arch. Neer. Sc. 1872, p. 374.

Paradules tcsniurus, Bleeker, China, p. 139.

B. vi, D. ^>f<j, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. -nj'yy, C. 17, L. 1. 52, L. tr. 6/12.

Length of head nearly 1/4, of caudal nearly 1/5, height of body 4/15 of the total length. Eyes—
diameter 2/5 of length of head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. The maxilla
reaches to below the first third of the orbit. Preorbital very finely serrated along its lower edge. Horizontal

* According to Mr. Garrett's observations in the Fische d. Sjidsee, p. 24, these fishes appear sometimes to prefer fresh water
to saline.

K 2

68' ACANTHOPTEETGII.

limb of preopercle regularly and evenly serrated. Opercle witli two spines, the lower somewliat tte longer.
Teeth— YinHorm in jaws, vomer, and palate. J/hs— dorsal spines not very strong, the fifth and sixth the highest,
and equal to half the length of the head : second anal spine slightly shorter but stronger than the third : caudal
forked. CoZo(t)-s— bluish,°becoming silvery-white on the sides and abdomen, soft dorsal greyish-black along its
upper third and having a white outer margin : caudal milk-white, with two oblique yellowish-black bands and
a narrow central black longitudinal one.

Yomiq in a specimen 1^ inches in length, taken at the Andamans, the colour dilTers from that of

the adult ;— body blue, with a narrow black longitudinal band passing from the upper edge of the orbit along
the back,' nearer to the base of the dorsal fin than the lateral-line, and ending in the lower of the two bands
crossing the upper lobe of the caudal fin : a narrow black band runs along the bases of both dorsal fins, whilst
each have black tips : the anal has a black mark on the front of its highest portion : caudal with one central
band, and two oblique ones across either lobe.

Habitat.— East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond : it attains sis inches
or more in length.

Sixth group— Theraponina.

Branchiostegals six. Opercle spinate : preopercle serrated. Cleft of mouth somewhat oblique. Dorsal
fin single, but more or less notched : three anal spines. Air-vessel divided by a constriction into an anterior
and posterior portion.

Genus, 14 — Theratos,* Ciw.

Pelates, sp. Cuv.f

Branchiostegals six : pseudohranchia;. Eyes of imderate size. Opercle with s^nnes. Preopercle and sometimes
preorhital serrated. Teeth villiform in both jaivs, the oi'ier row being sometimes the larger:- deciduous ones on the
vomer and palatines. Dorsal Jin single, but more or less notched, having from eleven to thiHeen spines ; anal with
three. Scales of moderate or small si:e. Air-vessel divided by a constriction. Pyloric appendages few or in,
moderate numbers.

Geographical distribution.— From the Red Sea and East coast of Africa through the seas of India to the
Malay Archipelago and Australia. These fishes in India are almost strictly marine, but some are occasionally
found in brackish water within tidal influence ; and having entered during very high tides, or in the monsoon
season, their retm-n to salt water may be cut ofi', when they live in the brackish or even fresh water ponds untd
the return of the next spring tide or the succeeding year's monsoon. The T.jarbua is frequently captured in the
Hooghly as high as Calcutta.

Uses.— Not esteemed as food, as they are reputed to feed on carrion, but they are eaten by the poorest
class of natives.

The colour- of these fish is usually silvery, with longitudinal bands, but in some species cross bands are
present in the immature. This may especially be noticed in the T. quadrilineatiis, whilst in the adult^ the only
remnant existing of such is the black blotch on the shoulder, which originally formed a portion of the first
body-band. As might be expected, the serrations and spmes about the head vary with age : but it is worthy of
special notice, that the sub- and inter-opercles may be serrated in some specimens and yet be entire in others,
and this is most apparent in the T. jarbua,. The existence of teeth on the vomer and palate appears to be often
confined to the immature.

SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES.

1. Therapon pvia, D. >V(j'. A. -g?,, L. 1. 90-100. Large teeth at preopercular angle. Four straight,
longitudinal blackish-brown bands along the body : a dark blotch on the spinous dorsal, and two oblique bauds
across either caudal lobe. Seas of India to the Malay Ai-chipelago.

2. Therapon jarbiM,^). V-W . A. -j^-j-, L. 1. 80"-90. Serrations at preopercular angle strong, but pretty
even. Three longitudinal, convex, reddish-brown bands along the body : a dark blotch on the spinous dorsal :
two oblique bands across either caudal lobe. Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India, to the Malay
Archipelago and beyond.

3. ^Therapon quadrilineatm, D. ^ Viy % A- rV- L. 1. 70. Sen-ations at preopercular angle strong, but pretty
even. Four or five horizontal blackish bands along the body : a black blotch on the spinous dorsal, another on
the shoulder : no bands on the caudal. Seas of India to the ]\Ialay Archipelago and China.

4. Therapon theraps, D. (Js';l^^ A. |, L. 1. 50-5.5. Evenly serrated on its preopercular angle. Thi-ee or
four horizontal blackish-brown bands along the body : two across either caudal lobe. East coast of Africa, seas
of India to the Malay Archipehigo and beyond.

1. Therapon puta, Plate XVIII, fig. 3.

Perea Jceelputa, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 19, pi. 126.

Therapon pida, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 131, Reg. Anim. 111. Poissons. pi. xii, fig. 2 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 50.

* Sabali-za, Mngh.

t Bleeker divides this genus by adopting the following, with reference to their dentition, an sub-genera :

1. JJatnia; teeth in jaws conical, entire, and in many rows.

2. Pelates; teeth in jaws conical, entire, in 3 rows in the upjier and 2 in the lower jaw.

3. Helotes; teeth iu the jawa in many rows,, and tricuspidate.

TAMILT, I— PERCID^. 69

Therapon ghehul, (Ehren.) Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 133 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 51 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 281 ;
Kliinz. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 728. __

Therapon trivitiatus, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 280; Day, Fisli. Malabar, p. 1< ; Kner, Novara iische, p. 4.:);
Bleeker, Therapons, 1872, p. 37.5.

Kove keetchaii, Tam. (Madras) : Keelputa, Tel. : Keetchan, Tarn, and Mai.

B. vi, D. 1 V^ S P. 15, V. 1/5, A. ^?^, C. 17, L. 1. 90-100, L. tr. 13-14/24, Crec. pyl. 7, Vert. 10/13.

Length of head 1/4 to 41, of caudal 1/5, height of body 1/4 in the total length. %es— diameter 3J to 31
in leno-th of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. The maxilla reaches to below the
anterior edge of the orbit. Preopercle with five or six strong denticulations on its vertical limb, the second
above the lowest being generally the largest, whilst the two inferior are larger than the superior ones, the
sen-ations are also continued along its horizontal limb. Sub- and inter-opereles entire. Opercle with two
spines, the inferior the longest and strongest, and about equal to the largest of those on the preopercle.
Shoulder-bone serrated (or crenulated), as is also the one in the axilla but more strongly so. Teeth — viUiform in
the jaws with an outer enlarged row, rudimentary ones present on the vomer and palate in the young, but lost as
ao-e advances. J'ujs— dorsal spines rather slender, the foui'th to the sixth about eqwal and the longest, higher
than the rays and equal to about 3/5 of the height of the body, fi-om whence they decrease to the last but one,
the last beiuo- a little higher. Pectoral as long as the head behind the middle of the eye. Second anal spine a
little shorter°than the third, which equals from 1/2 to 4/9 the height of the body : caudal emarginate. Colours—
greyish, with three or four longitudinal straight blackish-brown bands : spinous portion of dorsal in its upper
three quarters blackish between the third or foui-th and seventh or eighth spines. Two oblique bands pass
across the upper caudal lobe, and one, sometimes two, across its lower one. The young are similar to the adult,
except that they look as if light spots were present along the interspace between the first three horizontal bands,
giving the appearance of sinuous oblique dark bands.

Eahitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Ai-chipelago.

2. Therapon jarbua, Plate XVIII, fig. 4.

Scimna jarlua, Forsk. Desc. Anim. p. 50; Gm. Linn. p. 1303; Shaw, Zool. iv, p. 541.

Holocentrus servus, Bloch, t. 238, f. 1.

Holuceiitrus jarbua, Lacep. iv, pp. 348, 355.

Grammistes servus, Bl. Schn. p. 185.

Coius tr'wiUatns, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 92, 370,

Therapon Timoriensis, Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Uran. Poiss. p. .3'41.

Therapon servus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 125, and vii, p. 479 ; Riippell, N". \V. Fische, p. 95 ; Bleeker, Perc.
p. 50, and Atl. Icli. Perc. t. xxxiv, f. 2 ; Richards. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist, ix, p. 125 ; Giinther, Catal. 1, p. 278,
and Fische d. Sudsee, p. 26 ; Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 18 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 45.

PterapoH trii-ittatus, Gray and Hardw. Ind. Zool. (from H. B. Mss.)

Therapon trivittatus. Cantor. Catal. p. 19.

Therapon jarbua, Klunzinger, Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 729.

Therajjon (Datnia) jarbua, Bleeker, Therapons, 1872, p. 377.

FaUu keetchan, Tam. : Gahnu, Ooriah : Nga-sabasa-sa, ' Paddy eating fish,' Arrac. : Boorgooni and Jeerpye,
Beng-Chitt.

B. vi, D. W-tV, P- 13, V. 1/5, A. t^V- ^- 17, L. 1. 80-90, L. tr. 15/30, Vert. 10/15.

Length of head from 3/11 to 1/4, of caudal 1/5, height of body ^ to 3% in the total length. Eyes-
diameter 3I to 1/4 in length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and also apart. The maxUla reaches to
below the first third of the orbit. Preorbital moderately serrated in the last two-thirds of its lower edge.
Vertical limb of preopercle with fi-om 12 to 14 serrations, the two at its rounded angle being much the strongest,
alono' the lower limb are about eight weaker ones. Sub- and inter-opercles with fine serrations at their
approximating edges, which may or may not be blunted with age, those from the Malabar coast appear to be
the most strongly serrated. Upper opercular spine small, the lower large and strong, and its length equal to
about two-thirds of the diameter of the orbit. Shoulder-bone, also the one in the axilla, serrated, very strongly
so in the young. Teeth— an outer somewhat enlarged row iu the jaws, fine ones likewise generally present on
the vomer ancf palatines, more especially in the young. J'//(,s— dorsal spines moderately strong, the tliird and
fourth the longest, of about the same height and equal to half that of the body below them : second anal spme
usuaUy the strongest, and sUghtly shorter than the third : caudal forked. Colours— hac'k bluish-grey, becoming
white on the abdomen, with a tinge of gold along the cheeks and snout. Three longitudinal reddish-brown
bands, having a sHght convexity downwards, pass along the body : the upper from ia front of the dorsal spmes
to the eio-hth or ninth : the second from the occiput to the end of the soft dorsal having reached the lateral-line
in its concave course : the third from the back of the head to the lower opercular spine, and continued m a
curved direction to the centre of the caudal fin. Sometimes a fourth band is present along the abdomen.
Ventral and anal with a yellow tinge along their centres. Dorsal interspinous membrane milk-white, with a
black mark in its upper two-thirds between the third and sixth spines : a second commences at the eighth
spine, and is continued along the whole base of the soft dorsal : upper edge of first three dorsal rays tipped
with black : caudal with two oblique bands across each lobe : eye yellowish-red..

?0 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

In the younrj there are two strong spines at the preopercular angle.

Dr. Klunzinger, I.e. observes upon having ovAy found 10 spines in the first dorsal fin. Dr. Giinther,
' Fische d. Sudsee,' p. 2G, in answer to this, remarks that during a London fog he has found 11. I may complete
the discussion by stating that in my collection I have specimens representing both numbers.

Col. Tickell, MS. remarks that this fish is termed the Paddy or rice eater in Ai-racan, in consequence of
the yomig lacing so frequently found in the inundated rice or paddy-fields.

Habitat — From the Red Sea and East coast of Africa through the seas and estuaries of India to the
Illalay Archipelago and north coast of Australia. It is a common fish, attaining 12 or 13 inches in length.
Hamilton Buchanan left an excellent figure of this fish illustrative of his Coins trivittatus : it is labelled
Holocentrus kafkaya, and was reproduced by General Hardwicke. The species is not uncommon at Calcutta in
the tidal Hooghl)*, whilst the T. puta, to which Buchanan's description has been refen-ed, does not appear to
ascend so high, although I have taken it, along with other marine fishes, in the Sunderbunds.

3. Therapon quadrilineatus, Plate XVIII, fig. 5.

Holocentrus quadrilineatus, Bloch, t. 238, fig. 2.

Pristipoma sexlineaturn, Quoy and Gaim. Voj-. Frcyc. Poiss. p. 320.

Therapon quadrilineatus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 131 ; Richards. Ich. China, p. 239 ; Bleeker, Perc. p. 51 ;
Giinther, Catal. i, p. 282 ; Kner, Kovara Fische, p. 46.

Therapon xanthurus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 135.

Pelates sexU)ieatH.';, quadrilineatus, et quinqueUnefitus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 146, pi. 5.5 ; Less. Voy. Coq. ii,
p. 223; Cuv. Reg. An. lllus. Poiss. pi. xii, fig. 1 ; Griff. An. King. Fish. t. xii, fig. 1.

Helotes polytcenia, Bleeker, Halmah, p. 53 and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xxvi, f. 1.

Therapon Cuvieri, Bleeker, Timor, p. 211 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 282.

Therapon sexlineatus, Steindach. Fischf. Port Jackson, Sitz. Ak. Wiss. liii, p. 429.

Therapon (Pelates) quadrilineatus, Bleeker, Therapons, 1872, p. 389.

B. vi, D. 1 Vo'". P- 15, V. 1/5, A. ^, C. 17, L. 1. 70, L. tr. 13/26, Ckc. pyl. 18.

Length of head 1/4, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/4 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/3 of length
of head, 2/3 of a diameter from end of snout, and also apart. The maxilla reaches to below the front edge of
the orbit. Preorbital slightly serrated on its lower border. Preopercle serrated along both limbs, coarsest at
its rovmded angle, becoming indistinct along its horizontal limb. Sub- and inter-opercles entire. Opercle
with two rather weak spines. Shoulder-bone entire, that in the axiUa serrated. Teeth — villiform in 3 rows in
the upper and two in the lower jaw, and having the external row iu the maxilla enlarged. Fins — dorsal spines
moderately strong, becoming highest about the fifth, which equals half the height of the body below it : second
anal spine strongest, the third the longest : caudal emarginate. Pyloric appendages — very short. Colours —
sUvery, with five horizontal black bands, the first to the anterior portion of the soft dorsal : the second to the
end of its base : the third to the upper third of the base of the caudal : the foui-th to its lower third : the fifth
(sometimes absent) to the end of the base of the anal. A large black blotch on the shoulder. Dorsal fin with
a black blotch between its third and seventh spines, a black mark along the middle of the soft dorsal, and a
black tip. Pectoral canary colour, as is also the ventral and anal, the last of which is darkest externally, and
has a dark basal band : caudal yellowish with a dark edge but no bands.

The young have six light vertical cross bands, four times as wide as the ground colour, passing from the
back to the" fourth horizontal band ; they are distinct in the specimens up to 3| inches in length. The black
shoulder blotch in the adult is the upper portion of the first body band.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and China ; attaining at least 6 inches in length.

4. Therapon theraps, Plate XVIII, fig. 6.

Therapon theraps, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 129, pi. 53; Bleeker, Perc. p. 50, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xliii, fig. 1 ;
Richards. Ann. Nat. Hist. 1842, p. 126; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 95; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 274, and Fische d.
Sudsee, p. 26 ; Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 19 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 44 ; Klunz. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870,
p. 728.

Therapon ohscurvs, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 135; Cantor, Catal. p. 20; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 275.

Therapon squalidus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 136 (Ca?c. pyl. 13?) ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 275.

Therapon transversus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 136 (Cfec. pyl. 11 ?)

Therapon cinereus, Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 138 (Cebc. pyl. 10 ?) ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 276.

? Datnia virgata, Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 480.

f Therapon rulricatus, Richards. Ann. Nat. Hist. 1842, p. 127.

f Therapon virgatns, Giinther, Catal. i, p. 276.

Therapon (Datnia) theraps, Bleeker, Therapons, 1872, p. 379.

Kutta keetchan, Tam.

B. vi, D. ',V;' U, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 50-55, L. r. |^:Af, L- tr. 11/16, Vert. 10/15, Ciec. pyl.
(7 Kner.)

Length of head 1/4, of caudal 2/11 to 1/5, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Eyes — diameter 3|-
to 3\ in length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and also apart. The maxilla reaches to below the first

FAMILY, I— PERCID-cE. ' 71

third of the orbit. Preorbital very finely serrated on its lower edge in the adult but more distinctly in the
young. Preopercle nearly evenly serrated, most coarsely at its angle: sub- and inter-opercles entire, in
some of the young they are rough or even serrated at their approximating edges. Lower opercular spine the
longer, about 2/3 as long as the orbit, but not equalling the length of T.jarhiia. Teeth— \il\iiorm in the jaws,
with an outer somewhat enlarged row : deciduous ones present in the young on the vomer and said also to
exist on the palate. Shoulder-bone serrated, and two or three strong spines on the bone at the axilla. Fins —
dorsal spines modei-ately strong, the fourth slightly the longest and equal to half the height of the body below
it, their length decreases to the last but one, which is only two-thirds or three-fourths as high as the last :
second anal spine the strongest, but rather shorter than the third : caudal emarginate. Scales — above the
lateral-line a Kttle smaller than those below it. Colours — silvery, with four horizontal blackish-brown lines,
the first from the second to the last dorsal spine leaving a narrow yellow intervening space between them : the
second from the nape to the last few dorsal rays, and ending by being continued on to the fin as well as joining
the line below it : the third (which is often the last) from the snout to upper part of the tail : the lowest (often
absent) from the base of the pectoral to the lower caudal lobe. Dorsal fin with a black blotch between its
third and its seventh spines, and a dark band along the upper portion of the rays. An horizontal black band
alono- the first half of the anal fin. Caudal with two obliijue bands across its lower lobe, and two also across
its upper, the superior of which is interrupted in the adnlt, the lobe has likewise a black tip.

In the yoHiiq the colours are much darker, and due to innumerable fine brown spots they appear as if
they were dark witli two light bands only half the width of the darker ones. The anal fin has two large black
spots, one on the interspinous membrane" and continued on to the first three rays : the second is confined to the
last three rays. A large black shoulder spot is sometimes visible. There are teeth on the vomer.

Variety. — In a small specimen from Madras, 2^ inches long, there are D. V"' ^^^ tw S^'st spines
apparently being absent, it is otherwise identical with the young of this species.

Therapon cinereus (Cuv. and Val.) Giinther in the British Museum is this species, in which the bands,
though very faint, may still be traced : as the condition of the specimen is good, either it must have been
somewhat of an albino variety, or else it has been kept in such a light that etiolation has resulted.

Ealita.t.—'Ea.st coast of Africa, seas of India, through the Malay Archipelago to China, attaining at least
six inches in length.

Genus, 15 — Datxia, Cwv. and Val.

Mesojmstis, sp. Bleeker.

BrancMostegals six : 2)seudohranclnre. Body elevated, with a somewhat rectangular or concave profile : snout
pointed and somewhat produced. Eyes of moderate size. Opercle ivith spines: preopercle serrated. Teeth villiform
in hoth jaws: palate edentulous. Dorsal fin single, hut slightly notched, sjnnes strong (12-13) and occupying a
considerable amount of the length of the fin: anal ivith three spines. Scales of moderate size.

SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.

1. Vatnia argentea, D. \%, A. f , L. 1. 5G. Second anal spine strong. Seas of India to the Malay
Archipelago.

Datnia argentea, Plate XVIII, fig. 7.

Vatnia argentea. Cuv. and Val. iii, p. 139, pi. 54; Bleeker, Perc. p. 52.

Mesopristis inacracanthus, Bleeker, Batavia, p. 623.

Datnia cancelloides, Bleeker, Sumatra, p. 247 (young').

Therapon argenteus, Giinther, Catal. i. p. 283.

Therapon (Datnia) argenteus, Bleeker, Therapons, 1872, p. 382 (not Kner.)

B. vi, D. \%, P. 14, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 56, L. tr. 30-35, Crec. pyl. 11.

Length of head 1/4, of caudal 1/5, height of body 1/3 to 3J in the total length. iJi/^s— diameter 1/4 of
length of head, \\ diameters from end of snout, and 4/5 of a diameter apart. The maxilla does not quite
extend to beneath the anterior edge of the orbit. Snout pointed. Preorbital serrated along the last half of
its lower edge. Preopercle serrated along its vertical margin. Teeth — villiform in jaws, none on the palate.
Fins — fom-th and fifth dorsal spines the longest and rather more than half the height of the body : second anal
spine very strong, longer than the third, and exceeding the length of the longest in the dorsal fin : caudal
notched. CoZoMre^silvery, darkest along the back : a nan-ow black outer edge to the dorsal fin : a band along
the middle of f^ie anal, which also has a dark margin.

The young appear to have longitudinal bands.

As Cuvier observes, this fish has a more elevated body than in the tj'pical Therapons, a somewhat concave
profile, and pointed snout, the dorsal spines being stronger and their bases occupying a comparatively greater
extent of the back than the rays, and there being a very slight notch between the last two. In fact it is his
first species of Datnia, a genus which some Ichthyologists consider ought not to be retained.

Hahitat. — Cape seas, geas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. I never obtained it in India,
saw it in a local collection there, or observed any figure of it amongst drawings of Indian fishes, but as it is
found in the Malay Archipelago, stray ones may very possibly be occasionally captured on the coast of India.

72 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

Genus, 16 — Helotes, Cm.

Branc7doi>tegals six. Eyes of moderate size. Cleft of mouth rather smaZZ, jaws nearli/ equal in front.
Preojierde serrated ; operele ivith weak spines. The outer row of teeth in the jaws having a small lohe on each side :
palate edentidoiis. Dorsal fin single, not deeply notched, having twelve spines ; anal with three. Scales small, ctenoid.
Air-vessel divided by a constriction into an anterior and posterior portion. Pyloric ajipendages in moderate numbers.

Geographical distribution. — Ceylon* ? to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

Sixth group — PristipomatidsB.

Branchiostegals from five to seven. Preopercle serrated or entire. Mouth moderately protractile.
Teeth in the jaws. Three anal spines. Air-vessel destitute of any constriction.

Genus, 17 — Peistipoma, Cuv.

Genyfremus, Genyatremus, Anisotremus and Pristocantharus, Gill : Htrmulopsis, Steind.

Branchiostegals seven : pseudobranehicB. Body oblong, compressed. Eyes of moderate size. Cleft of raouth
horizontal : gape not very wide : premaxillaries moderately protusible : jaws of nearly equal length : a central
longitudinal and deep groove below the symphysis of the loieer jaw, and two small open pores under the chin : n»
barbels. Preopercle serrated : operele with indistinct points. Teeth in the jaws villiform without canines : palate
edentulous. Dorsal with from eleven to fourteen spines, and sometimes having a deep notch between the last two :
anal with three spines. Vertical fins scaleless or only so along their bases. Scales ctenoid and of moderate or small
size, piresent on the head, including the preorbital and lower jaw. Air-vessel simpile, destitute of any constriction.
Pyloric appendages few.

Geographical distribution. — All tropical seas and likewise found in the Mediterranean : the young of the
Indian species are often taken in backwaters.

Uses. — Fair as food but not much esteemed : the air-vessel in some places collected as isinglass. Many
breed about April or May.

SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES.

1. Pristipoma stridens, D. Ts-^rE^ -A-- !> L- i"- VcJW- Purp'^*^^ ^"^ ^he hack, becoming white on the
abdomen. Three golden bauds along the body and a dark mark on the upper third of the operele. Red Sea,
along the Meckran coast to Sind.

2. Pristipoma olivaceum, D. if, A. -^, L. r. |-f . Olive-grey, the head glossed with purple : a black
mark on the operele. Beloochistan and Sind.

3. Pristipoma furcatum, D. ^Vs'^ -A-- tV' ^- ^- 55-60. Silvery, with six sinuous blackish-brown bands,
three of which are above the lateral-line : a dark mark on the operele : spinous dorsal with three rows of brown
spots and a dark edge : upper half of dorsal dark, and a band along the anal. Seas of India to the Malay
Archijjelago.

4. Pristipoma hasta, D. tsJj-j, A. y'!^, L. 1. 4-5-60. Four or five lines of dark grey along the sides,
sometimes coalescing and forming bands : two or three rows of spots along the dorsal fin. Red Sea, East coast
of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

5. Pristipoma Commersonii, D. -fi, A. f, L. 1. 60. Sinuous rows of black dots over upper two-thirds of
body, and several rows along the dorsal fin. Madras.

6. Pristipoma macv.latum, D. ittS-tT' ^- f •> ^- 1- 52-56. Greyish, becoming white beneath : a black
band over the nape, and six black blotches along the side, three above and three below the lateral-line, not
forming bands but placed like squares on a chess board. Red Sea, East coast of Africa, through the seas of
India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond.

7. Pristipoma Dassumieri, D. -LJ, A. f , L. L 50-54. Greyish, becoming lighter below : two golden
lateral bands : fins with dark edges. Seas of India.

8. Pristipoma guoraka, D. yll-ff, A. y?-g-, L. 1. 4:5-47. Silvery, an olive spot on the operele. Seas of
India to the Malay Archipelago.

9. Pristipoma operculare, D. W, A. f , L. 1. 57. Silvery, with a black blotch at the posterior-superior
angle of the operele : upper half of the body with numerous black spots, sometimes forming undulating bands ;
a dark spot at the base of each dorsal spine and ray. East coast of Africa to Sind.

1. Pristipoma stridens, Plate XVIII, fig. 8.

Scicena stridens, Forsk. p. 50.
Perca, stridens, Bl. Schn. p. 87.
Pristipoma simmena, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 260.

Pristipoma stridens, Riippell, N. W. Fisehe, p. 122, t. 31, f. 1; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 300; Klunzinger,
Fische Roth. Meeres, Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien, p. 732.

* In the list of the Acanlhopterrpian fishes of Ceylon, prepared by Dr. Giinther (Sir E. Tennent's Nat. Hist, of Ceylon, 1861,
p. 360), is Helotes polytwnia Bleeker, as tliat species = Thcrapon quadrilineatus, I conclude that Dr. Giinthcr's species, which 1 have
not seen, may be identical.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 73

B. vii, D. -}-H. P- 17, V. 1/5, A. !•, C. 17, L. r. Vs-W, L- t^- 8-9/18, Caoc. pyl. 5-6.

Length of liead 1/4, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/4 of the total length, i/f/es— diameter 2/7 to 1/4
of length of head, 1 to 1^ diameters from end of snout, and 1 apart. Upper profile of head somewhat
rounded : jaws of about equal length. The maxilla reaches to below the front edge or first third of the orbit.
Vertical margin of preopercle oblique, angle rounded, serrated in its whole extent, its two or three lowest
serrations the strongest : horizontal limb entire, as are also the sub- and inter-opercles. Shoulder-bone serrated,
yeei/i— villiform in jaws, the outer row being slightly the largest. Kits— dorsal interspinous membrane
moderately notched, the spines slender, the fifth the highest and half as long as the head. Pectoral as long as
the head without the snout. Second anal spine stronger than, but not quite so long as the third, which equals
4/11 of the height of the body : caudal forked in its last third. Golours— they much resemble those of a Therapon,
purpKsh on the back becoming dirty white on the abdomen, a golden band from the occiput to the end of the
base of the soft dorsal : a second from the shoulder passes along the lateral-line to be lost on the summit of the
free portion of the tail : a third from the eye to the middle of the caudal fin : a dark mark at the upper third
of the opercle : dorsal interspinous membrane covered with fine black spots, outer edge and also that of the
caudal and anal stained grey : many fine dots over the head and body.

Variety. — At Aden I procured a variety of this species, which was nearly black, from the numerous dark
spots all over it. ...

Habitat. — Red Sea, along the Meckran coast, and very common at Kurrachee in Smd : attaimng at least
6 inches in length.

2. Pristipoma olivaceum, Plate XIX, fig. 1.

B. vii, D. il, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. -A-, C. 17, L. 1. 55, L. r. ff, L. tr. 9/15, Caac. pyl. 6.

Length of head 4/15 to 1/4, of caudal 2/11 to 1/6, height of body 3/10 to 1/3 of the total length. Ej/es—
diameter 2/7 to 1/4 of length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 1^ apart. Dorsal profile more convex
than that of the abdomen : body compressed. The maxilla reaches to below the posterior nostrU or even
front edge of the eye. Vertical limb of preopercle emarginate, its angle rounded, and the whole strongly
serrated : a deep groove below and behind the symphysis of the lower jaw and two open pores. Teeth— \i\Wovm.
in both jaws: the outer row rather the largest, i^f'jjs— dorsal spines, the fourth the highest and equal to half
the length of the head, the interspinous membrane notched. Pectoral pointed and nearly as long as the head :
second anal spine the strongest, and nearly as long as the third which equals the eighth of the dorsal fin.
Caudal emarginate. Scales— in oblique rows above and horizontal ones below_ the lateral-line. Ca;cal
Ofpendages— six which are rather long and enlarged at their extremities. Colours —olive-grey, the head glossed
with pm-ple, a large black blotch bordered in front with yellow at the upper angle of the opercle : pectoral
yellow, as is also the ventral m its front half, wliilst its posterior portion is black with a white edge : the other
fins stained with blackish and having fine deep browTi dots. Eyes golden.

Hahitat.—Co&sts of Beloochistan and Sind, attaining at least a foot in length (the specimen figured is a
little over S inches long). It appears to be common during the cold months.

3. Pristipoma furcatum, Plate XIX, fig. 2.

Grammistes furcatus, Bl. Schn. p. 187, t. 43.
Perca paikeeli, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 16, pi. 121.

Pristipo7na paikeeli, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 259 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 74 ; Bleeker, Verb. Bat. Gen. xxiii, Sciasn.
p. 20 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 292.

Pristipioma furaatum, Bleeker, Revis. Pristipoma, 1873, p. 304, (not Agass).
Paikeeli, Tel. : Kvllu-horake, Tam.

B. vii, D. 'Vf', P- 1'', V. 1/5, A. ^?^, C. 17, L. 1. 65-60, L. tr. 7/18.

Length of head from 1/4 to 4/17, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/3 of the total length, ^i/es— diameter
from 3 J to 4| in length of head, from 1 to IJ diameters from end of snout and also apart. A deep groove under the
symphysis of the lower jaw and two open pores. The maxilla reaches to below the anterior nostril. Preopercle
serrated, most strongly so at its somewhat produced angle. Teeth — in vQliform rows, with an outer enlarged one
in the upper jaw, and a slightly enlarged one in the lower jaw. Fins—ihvcA. or fourth dorsal spine the highest
and equal in length to the head behind the middle of the eye, or 2| in the height of the body, every alternate
one being broader. Pectoral a little longer than the head : ventral does not reach the anal. Second anal_ spine
much the strongest and also the longest, being higher than the fourth of the dorsal fin and about 1/2 as high as
the body : caudal notched. C'o/oMrs— silvery with six horizontal brownish-black bands, darkest externally, three
of which are above the lateral-line : spinous portion of the dorsal fin with three rows of brown spots and a dark
edge : upper half of soft dorsal dark : a dark band along the anal.

Bloch Schneider's specimen, a little over 7 inches in length, is still preserved in the Berlin Museum,
leaving no doubt as to its identity with the paikeeli of Russell.

Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. The specimen figured is 6 inches long and from Madras,
there is a stutt'ed one fi-om the same locality in the India Museum, 11 inches in length.

4. Pristipoma hasta, Plate XIX, fig. 3, and 4 (young f ).
Lutjanus hasta, BI. t. 246, f. 1.

74 ACANTHOPTERTGII.

Coins rjudgutia, Ham. Bucli. p. 04, 370.

Fristifoma haukaii, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 2-i4 ; Riippell, N. W. Fisclie, p. 123.
Pristipmim Commersonii, Cantor, Catal. p. 72.

Pristipoma hasta, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 247 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 289 ; Day, Fislies of ilalabar, p. 20 ;
Khmzin. Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien. 1870, p. 733; Bleeker, Kevis. Pristip. 1873, p. 308.
Pristi/poma chrysohallon, (K. and v. H.) Cuv. and Val. v, p. 248.
Mesuprion gut(jidia, (Cuv. and Val.) Blyth, Proc. A. S. of Bengal, 1860, p. 111.
Pohtus niildus, Blytli, Proc. A. S. of Beng. 18.58, p. 283, & 1800, p. 111.
Coroua and Coralce, Tam. : Cuumpoo, Bel.

B. vii, D. T-i.\j, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. y=^, G. 17, L. 1. 45-50, L. tr. 7/10, Ctec. pyl. 6-7.

Length of head 1/3 to 2/7, of caudal 1/5 to 1/6, height of body 1/3 to 3/10 of the total length. Hges—
diameter from 1/3 to 1/5 of length of head, from 2/3 to IJ diameters from end of snout and also apart. The
maxilla reaches to beneath the anterior edge or even first third of the orbit. Preopercle emarginate posteriorly,
its angle rounded and produced, sen-ated in its whole extent, very coarsely so at its angle, and most distinctly
so in the immature. Opercle with two rounded points. Shoulcler bone serrated. Teeth — villiform, outer row
somewhat the largest. Fins — dorsal spines strong, the third or fourth the longest and equal to 1/2 the height
of the body, from it they decrease to the 11th which equals 2/3 the height of the second, whilst the 12th is
almost 1/3 longer. Pectoral nearly as long as the head : ventral reaches 2/3 of the way to the anal. Second anal
spine longest and strongest, equalling 1/2 of the height of the body and longitudinally fluted, the 3rd tliimierand
1/4 shorter. Caudal emarginate. Colours — four or five interrupted Lines of grey along the sides, three or four
being above the lateral-line : sometimes they coalesce and form bands. Two or three rows of spots along the
dorsal fin, and in the adult a single row of dull blotches at the base of the fin.

Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India, Malay Archipelago to North Australia, attaining
1 \ feet or more in length.

The specimen from which fig. 3 is taken is 7 inches long, whilst fig. 4 of one of the young is twice the
natural size, it shows how with age the length of the last dorsal spines comj^aratively decrease to the size of the
fish.

5. Pristipoma argenteum, Plate VIII, fig. 3.*

Scicena argentea, ror.sk. p. 51.

/" AiitMas lineatus, Bl. t. 320, f. 1.

7 Lahrim Commersonii, Lacep. iii, pp. 431, 477, t. xxiii, fig. 1 : Shaw, Zool. iv, p. 493. ,

I'Lutjanus mdcrostoma, Lacep. iv, pp. 181, 210, and iii, t. xxxiv, f. 2.

? Pristipoma Commersonii, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 252.

Pomadasis arg&titeus, Lacep. iv, p. 516.

Pristipoma argenteum, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 249; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 291.

B. vii, D. if, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. A C. 17, L. 1. 50, L. tr. 5/13.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 2/13, height of body 3/10 of the total length. £'(/e.?— diameter 3^ in tlie
length of head, 1 diameter from end of snont, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. The maxilla reaches to below the
front edge of the eye. Preopercle serrated along its Tertical limb and angle. Shoulder bone serrated, the one in
the axilla entii'e. A deep gi-oove under the symphysis of the lower jaw, and two small open pores anterior to it.
Teeth — villiform, with the external row enlarged, most distinctly so in the upper jaw. Fins — dorsal spines
of moderate strength, each alternate one thicker on one side, first short, second nearly twice its height but only
half of the third wliich equals 3/7 of the height of the body, the fourth is nearly as high and the rest gradually
decrease to the eleventh which equals the height of the second, the twelfth is a very little longer but
more than 1/2 the height of the rays. Pectoral as long as the head : ventral almost reaches the anal. First
anal spine short, the second moderately strong, having a raised keel along its anterior surface, and being nearly
1/2 as high as the body : third spine much weaker, and a little more than 1/3 shorter. Lateral-line — tubes
expand posteriorly into a wedge-shape. Free portion of tail about as long as high. Colours — silvery, covered
with black spots in the upper two-thirds of the body foi-ming sinuous lines : a dark spot on the opercle. A row
of basal spots along the dorsal fin, two more above it in the spinous portion, and a dark line along the soft tin.

This species has a less deeply cleft dorsal fin than is seen in P. hasta (except in the very young) ; irre-
spective of which it also diflers from it or P. nageb, in its more obtuse snout, &c.

Habitat. — Red Sea and seas of India.

6. Pristipoma maculatum, Plate XIX, fig. 5.

Anthias maeulatus, Bloch, t. 326, f. 2 ; Bl. Sclm. p. 300.

I/iitjanus maeulatus, Lacep. iv, p. 233.

Perca caripe, Russell, Fishes Vizag, ii, p. 18, pi. 124.

Pristipoma caripu, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 201 ; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 124; Cantor, Catal. p. 75; Bleeker,
Scisen. p. 21.

Pristipoma maculatum, Gunther, Catal. i, p. 293 ; Day, Fishes of Malabar, p. 21 ; Kner, Novara Fische,
p. 52; Klunzinger, Verb. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 735; Bleeker, Rev. Pristip. 1873, p. 306.

* Marked rrisUx>oina Commersonii, on the plate.

FAMLY, I— PERCID^.

t'j

Carijie, Tel. : JErruttu'in corah, Mai. : Curridche, Tarn.

B. vii, D. ^-^, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. 52-56, L. tr. 8/12, Coec. pyl. 6.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body 1/3 to nearly 4/1.3 of the total length. Ez/es— diameter
2/7 to 1/4 of length of head, Ij diameters from end of snout, and also apart. Maxilla extends to nearly or quite
below the anterior edge of the orbit. Vertical limb of preoperole slightly emarginate and finely serrated,
angle rounded and having two or three very small serrations ; inferior limb crenulated or entire. Shoulder-
bone entire. Teeth — villiform in the jaws, the outer row slightly the largest. Fins — fourth dorsal spine the
highest, equalling the length of the postorbital portion of the head. Pectoral as long as the head : ventral
does not reach the anal. Second anal spine a little longer and much stronger than the third, it equals 1/3 the
height of the body : caudal emarginate. Scales — in oblique rows above the lateral-line and horizontal ones
below it. Colours — grej-ish, becoming white beneath, and having a purplish tinge about the head : a blackish
band over the snout : a second from the occiput touches the posterior edge of the orbit, and descends over the
opercles. A vertical black band, about eight scales wide, passes over the nape and terminates about three
scales below the lateral-Une : posterior to this are six black blotches, three or foui- above, and two or three
below the lateral-line, not forming bands, but placed like squares on a chess board. Spinous dorsal with a
large black mark between its fourth and seventh or even eighth spines : soft dorsal with a dark band along its
centre, and both dorsals with their edges stained black, as is also the caudal.

In younr/ specimens, as 2J„ inches in length, the preopercle is strongly serrated along its vertical border :
at 3| the serrations are still strong : at 4| there is but slight difference, whilst at Q\ they are even less apparent.

Abnormal developnent. — In one specimen an extra spine is developed on one side of the second spine of
the dorsal fin.

Hahltat. — From the Red Sea and East coast of Africa, through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago
and New Guinea : it attains at least 16 inches in length : the specimen figured is 9 inches long.

7. Pristipoma Dussumieri, Plate XIX, fig. 6.

Cuv. and Val. v, p. 259; Gunther, Catal. i, p. 291.

Pristipoma Neilli,* Daj', Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 936.

Cut-tah-lee, Tam.

B. vii, D. if, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. a, €. 19, L. 1. 50, L. r. ff, L. tr. 6|/15.

Length of head 1/4, of caudal 1/5, height of body rather more than 1/3 of the total length. Eyes —
diameter 1/3 of length of head, nearly 1 diameter from end of snout, and 3/4 of a diameter apart. Jaws of
about equal length anteriorly. The maxilla extends to nearly beneath the front edge of the orbit. Preopercle
having its vertical limb sUghtly emarginate, its rounded angle being a little produced, and the whole serrated
but most coarsely so at the angle, its horizontal limb with a few serrations along its posterior portion. Teeth —
villiform in the jaws. Fins — dorsal spines strong, every alternate one being broader, intcrspinous membrane
slightly notched, the fourth spine the longest and equal to two-fifths of the height of the body : pectoral as long-
as the head : ventral does not reach the anal, its first ray with a filamentous prolongation : second anal spine
strong, one-fom-th longer than the third, and equal to two-thirds the length of the head : caudal emarginate,
being deeply luuated. Colours — grej-ish, becoming white on the abdomen : a brilliant golden band passes from
the eye to the base of the caudal fin, a second above it runs along a few rows of scales. Fins silvery dashed
with gold, a dark band along the base of the dorsal and its spinous portion with a black margin : upper portions
of soft dorsal and the last half of spinous dorsal dark grey. Stuffed specimens lose their golden bands and
appear uniform.

Habitat. — Seas of India, more common on the East than on the West coast, but nowhere numerous.
Jerdon only obtained it on the Malabar coast (Madr. Journ. Lit. and Science, 1851, p. 132.)

8. Pristipoma guoraka, Plate XX, fig. 1.

.'' Perca grunniens, Forst. p. 294.

.'' Anthias gru'imiens, Bl. Schn. p. 308.

Perca guoraka, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 24, pi. 132.

Pristipoma guoraka, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 256; Cantor, Catal. p. 73; Bleeker, Sciasn. p. 23, and Revis.
Prist. 1873, p. 315, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xlv, fig. 1 ; Day, Fishes Malabar, p. 22 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 53.

Pristipoma argyreum, Cuv. and Val. ix, p. 485 ; Bleeker, Sciajn. p. 22, and Atl. Ich. Perc. t. xlii, fig. 4,
and Revis. Prist. 1873, p. 313 ; Giinther, Catal. i, p. 292 ; Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 683.

B. vii, D. f|:i|, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. ^'g-, L. 1. 45-47, L. tr. 6/12, Crac. pyl. 5 (Kner).

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 1/6, height of body a little above 1/3 of the total length. Syes— diameter
3^ to 3| in length of head, 1 to IJ- diameters from end of snout and also apart. A considerable rise from the
snout to the base of the first dorsal. The maxilla hardly reaches to below the front edge of the orbit. Vertical
limb of preopercle coarsely serrated, as is also its produced and rounded angle, where the serrations are wide
apart, along the horizontal Umb they are much blanter. Shoulder-bone serrated. Teeth— viWiiovm, with the

* In the Zoological Record for 1867, p. 1.59, Dr. Gunther observes: " Pristiiyoma jmorata (Cuv. and Val.) is described as
Pristixioma Xeilli (sp. n.) by Day." The type specimen is therefore figured, it is 6-j^ inches in length.

L 2

7Q ACAifTHOPTERTGII.

outer row in the upper jaw somewliat enlarged. fiHS— dorsal spines ratlier strong, the third and fourth the
longest, and equal to half the height of the body below, but rather less in the young, interspinous membrane
rather deeply notched, the last dorsal spine rather longer than the one preceding it. Pectoral equals the
length of the head : second anal spine the longest,* and in the adult a fourth longer than the fifth of the
dorsal, it is striated in grooves along its front edge : caudal cut squiire or slightly emarginate. Colours—
sOvery, darkest along the back, and in the young with an indistinct darkish band along the muldle of the body :
a dark' spot, having "steel blue reflections, exists on the opercle : snout dark: a dark streak along the dorsal
fin most distinct ui the immature. In a specimen 3| inches long the snout is dark, and there is a large
black blotch covering 2/3 of the opercle.

Bleeker considers that P. arfjyrenm is distinct from P. guoral-a, the former bemg distiagmshed by a
more obtuse and more convex profile, by the eyes being considerably larger, and by the second anal spine
being weaker and shorter.

In examining a series of specimens of these fishes, it appears to me that one can hardly separate one
species from the other, the difierence being probably due to age and perhaps sex. In the young the eye is 1/3
the length of the head and only 1/2 a diameter from the end of the snout, and the second anal spine generally
only equals the length of the postorbital portion of the head.

Habifat.Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, said to have been captured in fresh water. Russell
observed that his fish was 2 feet in length, if it was this species, his specimen must have been a most
extraordinarily large one.

9. Pristipoma operculare, Plate XX, fig. 2.

Playfair, Pish. Zanz. p. 24, pi. iv, f. 1. ' '

B. vii, D. H, P- 19, V. 1/5, A. I, C. 17, L. 1. 57, L. r. M- L- tr. 9/19, Ckc. pyl. 5.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal 2/11 to 1/6, height of body 2/7 of the total length. Eyes— di&meter 1/5
to 2/11 of length of head, If diameters from end of snout, and 1§ apart. Snout pointed and somewhat
compressed : jaws of equal length. The maxiUa reaches to below the posterior nostril. Preopercle emarginate,
finely serrated, most coarsely so at its rounded angle. Teeth— in jaws villiform, the outer row being scarcely
enlarged. Piits— dorsal spines strong, the fourth the highest, equal to the length of the postorbital portion
of the head and higher than the rays. Pectoral as long as the head reaching to above the anal fin : the
ventral does not reach to the anal : second anal spine the strongest and longest equal to the third of the
dorsal : caudal emarginate. Ccecal appeiularies-xeTj long. Colours — silvery, with a black blotch at the posterior-
superior corner of the opercle : upper half' of body with numerous black spots, which in some do, in others do
not, form undulating bands : a black spot at the base of each dorsal spine and ray : dorsal and caudal dark
edged : anal blackish in its front half.

The yo2mij are silvery, with the opercular spot distinct, a black mark in the axilla, and a few dark spots
over the base of the pectoral fin : dark spots on the dorsal almost form bands along its upper and lower
thirds : a dark band is likewise present along the centre of the soft portion : last half of caudal dark grey.

The form of this species is very similar to P. nageb, Riippell, which, however, has D. tt-^, L. 1. 42-43,
and the eye 1/6 of length of head. The second anal spine comparatively longer. In the specimen in^ Berlin,
16 inches long, the spots are sprinkled over one side of the body, but in bands as shown in RiippeU's figure
on the other. A specimen of P. suiUiim, C.V. at Berlin from the Cape of Good Hope makes it doubtful whether
P. operculare may not prove to be a variety of that species.

Habitat. — East coast of Africa to Sind, where it is common : attaining at least 15 inches in length.

Genus, 18 — Hapalogexts, Bichards.

Pogonias, sp. Tem. and Schleg.

Branchiosteijals six or seven : jjseudohrancUw. Body rather elevated and compressed. Eyes of 'moderate size.
Cleft of mouth hfjrizontal : the anterior and under surfaces of the loioerjaw ami the lips covered ivith fine harlelform
papilla}. Preopercle serrated : opercle with short sjjiues. Villiform teeth in the jaws, vomer, and palatines : an outer
row of conical hut someivhat obtuse teeth in either jaw, but no canuies: to7iyue smooth. A dee'ply notched dorsal fin
having eleven spines : anal with three : caudal convex or slightly notched. Scales ctenoid, of nwderate or small size,
and extended over the fins. Air-vessel simple. Pyloric appjendages few.

Geographical distribution. — Seas of Sind to China and Japan.

The specimen captured ofi" Sind differs from the usual definition of the Genus,t and I am indebted to the
kind services of Professor Peters for suggesting its present position.

* In six Fpecimens in my collection the following are the comparative lengths as regards the seconcl anal spine :

1. Total length 3^% inches: of body without caudal fin 2fL inches : anal spine ^ inches or 5| in length of body.

2. „ „ 3to i> : r, » " ''to ,1 : v To „ ,- 5j ., „

3. ., „ 4yV „ : „ ,, ,. 3xo ,> = ,1 To •> " 5t i> "

4- „ ), 4i% „ : „ „ „ 3yo „ : „ To » » ^f » ,,

5- .. >. 4^% „ : „ „ „ ^To » '■ " tV '• » ^T " "

6. „ „ S/jy „ : .. " V 4t% „ : .. tV .. ,,.53 " ,,'•'•,,,

t The single sjiecics recorded here has seven (not six) branchiostegal rays : its spinous dorsal is very low, and divuiea t,^ a
notch from the sotl portion of the fin. making one almost doubt the propriety of including it in this Genns. On the other L;iud ilie
general form of the body, the dentition, &c. being the same, it is placed as an aberrant form of Hoipalogenys.

FAMILY, I— PERCID^. 77

SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.

1. Eapalogenys Petersi, D. \^, A. -^, L. 1. luO. Colours dark slatey, witli tlie fins nearly black. Sind.

1. Hapalogenys Petersi, Plate XX, fig. 3.

B. vii, D. ii, P. 19, V. 1/6, A. J3, C. 17, L. 1. ca. 100.

Length of head 2/7, of caudal nearly 1/G, height of