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Show 848 LIEUT COL. PLAYFAIR O N [Nov. 14, agrees with that in the ' Voyage of the Astrolabe.' The latter is * distinguished not only by the form, number, and distribution of the spots, but by the greater height of the body, and the shape of the spinous portion of the dorsal. Diagnosis.- Caudalis with rather convex posterior margin. The length of the head is contained thrice and three-quarters, and the height of the body four times in the total length. Diameter of the eye one-fifth of the length of the head. The upper maxillary does not extend as far as the posterior margin of the orbit. PrEeoperculum serrated, with four or five stronger denticulations at the angle; sub-and interoperculum entire ; operculum with three points, the upper of which is minute, and the middle one very long. Scales ciliated. Third dorsal spine longest, but not half the length of the head. The third anal spine longest? Colour.- Brownish, with numerous small yellow spots, which are smaller and more distinct on the head than on the body. Spinous dorsal with indistinct yellowish spots, soft portion with a yellow margin and two series "of distinct and one (the basal) series of indistinct large round brown spots, about eight in each. Anal and caudal blackish, with numerous large dark brown spots, the latter with a yellow maro in. Ventrals and pectorals similarly spotted. Length 14 inches. 1 7. S. AREOLATUS, Forsk. There is not the slightest doubt that the fish described in Gunther's ' Catalogue,' and quoted in 'The Fishes of Zanzibar,' is the true S. areolatus of Forskall, and of the ' Hist. Nat. des Poissons.' On a recent visit to the Paris Museum, specimens of this species were shown to m e bearing the name of angularis, Cuv. Probably these were not the typical specimens of angularis, but were confounded with it at some later period. Cuvier's description of the latter agrees perfectly with a specimen in the British Museum. 18. S. CHLOROSTIGMA, C. & V. 19. S. CYLINDRICUS, Gthr. 20. PLECTROPOMA MACULATUM, Bl. 21. POGONOPERCA OCELLATA. Pogonoperca ocellata, Giinth. Fish. i. p. 169. Two specimens of this remarkable fish were obtained at Seychelles, where it appears quite unknown to the fishermen. Only two other examples are known to exist, one in the British and the other in the Paris Museum. 22. GENYOROGE SEB^E, C. & V. 23. G. BENGALENSIS, C. & V. 24. G. RIVULATA, C. & V. |
