| OCR Text |
Show 1867.] MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 561 Mouth anterior, the posterior extremity of the upper jaw reaching to under the anterior margin of the orbit, but almost concealed by the preorbital and thick fleshy upper lip, which has a broad fold anteriorly. Posterior limb of the praeoperculum nearly vertical, but becoming slightly oblique towards its angle, and the whole very finely serrated ; lower limb horizontal, entire. Operculum spineless, rather higher than wide ; sub- and interopercula entire. Teeth. Four strong canines in the anterior part of either jaw, the outer ones in the upper jaw curved outwards, as are also those of the lower jaw, but to a less extent; a single row of pointed teeth along the side of either jaw, and a posterior canine. Fins. The dorsal spines anteriorly weak, the last being longest and strongest and equal in length to the rays; the interspinous membrane extended beyond the spines and deeply notched. Pectoral rather pointed. Ventral with its first ray prolonged ; its spine weak and nearly equal in length to the last dorsal one. First anal spine weak, half the length of the second, which is about equal in strength to, but not so long as, the third. Caudal with a broad base, and slightly emarginate. Scales cycloid, placed in horizontal rows along the body ; those on the head smaller, and covering the interorbital space, the cheeks, and opercula, but not the preorbital; also forming a sheath to the dorsal and anal fins, and extended over the base of the caudal. Lateral line composed of scales smaller than those contiguous, consisting of a single tube on each scale branching posteriorly. It is continuous in upper third of the body from the head to the centre of the caudal fin. Colours. Scarlet, extended over the whole of the body without any dark markings. Anal yellow, its central rays scarlet; the dorsal red, with its last few rays yellow, its sheath also yellowish. Caudal red. Pectoral flesh-coloured. Lips reddish. Eyes golden, with red markings. I have named this species after m y esteemed correspondent A. G. Brisbane Neill, Esq., F.Z.S. Hab. Madras. PLAGUSIA POTOUS, CUV. ; Russell, pl. 73. B. vi. D. 107. V. 6. A. 87. C. 12. L. 1. 87. Length of head f of the total length. Height of body | of the total length. Eyes on the left or coloured side, half of the superior being in advance of the inferior, and the posterior margin of the lower orbit being in the centre of the length of the head ; diameter yy of length of head ; 1 diameter apart. Body elongated and lanceolate. Mouth cleft to slightly beyond the posterior extremity of the lower orbit, its angle midway between snout and gill-opening. The elongated hook of the snout ends below a vertical line from the anterior extremity of the upper orbit. Fins. Dorsal commences the length of two diameters of the orbit PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1867, No. XXXVI. |
