OCR Text |
Show 1867.] DR. A. GUNTHER ON NEW FISHES. 101 the upper profile of the head; its diameter is contained five times and one-third in the length of the head, and equal to the distance between the eyes ; forehead between the eyes convex. The other parts of the head are thickly covered with small scales. Praeoperculum with the posterior margin finely serrated, and with from two to five larger teeth on the lower limb. Operculum with two flat prominent spines, the lower being smaller. Dorsal fin rather elevated, no notch before the soft portion. Vertical fins covered with minute scales at their base and basal half. The first dorsal spine is above the base of the longest spine of the operculum, and is not quite one-half the length of the last spine ; the second is rather more than twice as long as the first; the third and fourth are the longest, nearly half as long as the head ; membrane between the spines very deeply notched: the length of the base of the soft portion is two-thirds of that of the spinous ; it is slightly, if at all, inferior to the spinous portion in height, and has the upper margin convex. Distance between dorsal and caudal fins equal to the depth of the free portion of the tail. Caudal truncated, one-sixth of the total length. The first anal spine is short, less than half the length of the second; the second is of moderate thickness, the third is the longest, much shorter than the first ray, and not quite one-third of the length of the head; the soft portion is rounded, and its distance from the commencement of the caudal is one-half of the depth of the body. Pectoral well developed, rounded, reaching to the level of the vent, its length being contained five times and one-half in the total; its base has very minute scales. Ventrals as long as or longer than the pectorals, inserted below the base of the pectorals; their spine is three-fifths of their entire length. Teeth rather coarse, cardiform; a pair of canines in the front of both jaws; palatine teeth in narrow bands ; vomerine teeth in a triangular patch. Coloration as in the specimen figured by Schlegel. XlPHOCHILUS FASCIATUS. (Plate X.) D.j. A. £. L. lat. 29. L. transv. 4/10. The height of the body is one-third of the total length, the length of the head nearly one-fourth. Head rather longer than high, compressed, the width of the interorbital space (which is flat) being equal to the diameter of the eye. Eye immediately below the upper profile, in the middle of the length of the head. Anterior and posterior canine teeth greenish blue. Scales on the cheek in six series. Opercular membrane of moderate extent. Pectoral fin without a notch behind, nearly as long as the head, extending to the vent. Caudal fin truncated. The ground-colour of the head and upper part of the trunk appears to have been reddish orange, of the hinder and lower parts greenish. Head and body with bluish-ashy cross bands, each edged with violet. Three such bands across the upperside of the head, two being narrow and in front of the eyes, the third broad |