| OCR Text |
Show 1867.] MR. F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. 703 Eyes directed upwards and slightly outwards, § of a diameter from end of snout, and rather more than 1 diameter apart. Body, in circumference largest anteriorly, gradually decreasing towards the tail. Head depressed. Body compressed. Mouth oblique, closed anteriorly by the under jaw, so that it is directed upwards ; the posterior margin of the upper jaw extends to beneath the centre of the orbit. There are five praeopercular spines at equal distances apart, the anterior of which is directed forwards. The upper surface of the head nodulated, a moderately large suprascapular, and very large humeral spines. Praeorbital roughened, large, and slightly constricted where its anterior joins its middle third. Teeth villiform in jaws, vomer, and palate. Fins. Ventrals jugular. Pectoral large and rounded. Caudal rounded. Scales minute, and having raised edges. Lateral line proceeds backwards from suprascapular spine, and, passing along parallel with the back, arrives at the upper third of the base of the caudal fin, when it bends down to its centre, but is not continued between its rays. Colours. Chestnut-brown, becoming bluish white on the abdomen. The whole of the upper half of the head, front of lower jaw, and body covered with bluish-white spots. Fins darkish grey, edged with white. Ventral aud anal lighter; the upper three-fourths of the first dorsal deep black. Eyes golden. SCORPEENA ROSEA, sp. nov. B.vii. D. 11/A P. 17. V. 1/5. A. 3/5. C. 15. L. 1. 43. L. tr. 7/18. Length of specimen 5 inches. Length of head \, of base of dorsal spines nearly \, of base of dorsal rays ^, of pectoral |, of base of anal y1^, of caudal i- of the total length. Height of head \, of body 3, of dorsal spines \, of dorsal rays \, of ventral \, of anal spines jr, of anal rays 1 of the total length. Eyes. Orbits raised, with depressions anterior and posterior to them, having also a deep concave interorbital groove, with an elevated line on either side which does not become spiny. Diameter of eye \ of length of head, f of a diameter from eye to eye, 1| diameter from end of snout. Dorsal profile more convex than the abdominal. Head compressed. Snout rather elevated, a transverse depression between it and the orbits. Cleft of mouth oblique ; posterior extremity of the maxilla extending to beneath the centre of the orbit; lower jaw the longest. Posterior nostril circular, situated in the transverse groove behind the snout, and having a short sharp spine a short distance anterior to it; the anterior nostril tubular, just anterior and external to this spine, and having a broad fleshy tentacle above it, which is |
