OCR Text |
Show 100 DR. A. GUNTHER ON NEW FISHES. [Jan. 24, space, but somewhat less than the extent of the snout, contained four times and one-half in the length of the head. Opercles scaly ; the scales on the praeoperculum in seven or eight series, much smaller than those on the operculum and rest of the body. Cleft of the mouth oblique, the upper maxillary reaching to the vertical from the centre of the eye; praeorbital somewhat wider than the maxillary. Praeoperculum rounded, finely serrated behind, entire below ; sub- and interoperculum entire. Operculum with three flat short points, the upper and lower of which are concealed by the scales, the middle one being the longest and sharpest. Dorsal fin commencing just above the extremity of the operculum; its spinous portion scarcely lower, but longer, than the soft; the fourth, fifth, and sixth spines are the longest, more than one-third the length of the head ; the first spine is very short, half as long as the diameter of the eye. Soft dorsal rounded; the anterior and middle rays the longest, the sixth being not quite twice as long as the last spine. Caudal fin truncated, slightly rounded at the angles, about one-sixth of the total length. Anal with the soft portion narrow and deeper than the dorsal fin ; second anal spine strong and long, two-fifths the length of the head ; third anal spine much longer than the first. Pectoral long, rounded, reaching to above the vent, four-fifths of the length of the head. Ventrals not reaching to the vent. Teeth villiform; several larger teeth in the outer series of both jaws. Vomerine and palatine teeth in narrow bands. Tongue toothless. Brownish olive, with indistinct darker cross bands extending on the dorsal fin. A broad white cross band on the belly, before the vent, extending upwards to the level of the pectoral fin. A 'small deep-black spot behind the top of the last dorsal spine, on the middle of the two first dorsal rays; several other, irregular, more or less distinct spots on the dorsal fin corresponding to the cross bands on the body. The soft vertical fins with transverse series of small brownish spots. A small black round spot above and below on the root of the caudal fin. Pectoral red; ventral blackish. Two specimens, 4 inches long. PLECTROPOMA SUSUKI, Schleg.; Giinther, Cat. Fish. i. p. 160. This species was known from the Chinese and Japanese Seas only; and as the praeoperculum has not been well described by Schlegel, I think it necessary to give a description taken from two fine examples, 12 inches long, sent by Mr. Krefft from Sydney. D. ii. A. §-. L. lat. 110. The depth of the body is contained thrice or twice and two-thirds in the total length (without caudal) ; the length of the head (opercular spine and membrane included) twice and two-thirds ; snout moderately pointed, longer than the diameter of the eve. The cleft of the mouth is wide and oblique, the maxillary extending to the posterior margin of the orbit. Snout with minute rudimentary scales, upper maxillary and mandible scaleless ; one-half of the praeorbital with small distinct scales. Eye situated immediately beneath |