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The irmt. till near the end of the dorsal fin, dhninishes little in breadth, the back and belly convex, the sides
compressed, convex ; tail broad. The lateral line, from the upper edge of the opercula, descends obliquely to
within two inches and a half of the caudal fin, where it becomes straight and middle. Anus remote, small.
The fias. Two distinct dorsal; in the first, two short and five stout declining spines; in the second, one
spinous and thirteen soft assurgent rays; the pectoral low, short, acuminate at top, remarkably thin; ventral
longer, thicker, with one strong spine; the anal rounded like the second dorsal, lias three spines; the caudal
fin orbicular.
The colour of the head and back a darkish gray, growing lighter towards the belly, which with the breast
and part of the face are pearl. The pectcral fill is of a faint, the ventral of a deep, yellow; the other fins are
darker than tlie back.
The length, one foot and a half.
REMARKS.
This fish grows to three feet and a half in length, but is best when of the size described, or about two feet
long. It is reckoned one of the best fish brought to table, more especially at Calcutta, where it is known under
the name of Cockup; but is rather rare at Vizagapatam, and held inferior to other fish more common on
the coast.
N o . C X X X I I .
P e r c a cmda sub-inlegra; spinis dorsalibus duodecem; capite aculo, loto squasmso; corpore
cinereo, squamis ciliatis; spina anali secunda permagna.
T h e P e r c h vvith a ta il h a r d ly d iv id e d ; tw e lv e d o rsa l s p in e s ; th e h e a d s h a rp , e n tire ly
s q u am o u s ; a c in e ritio u s b o d y w i th c ilia te d s c a le s ; th e se c o n d a n a l s p in e v e r y b ig .
Ga lled b y th e N a tiv e s G u o r a k a .
12 X JZ
. v i i . D . 2 6 . P. 1 7 . V. 6. A . 1 ) . G. 1 7 .
T h e body nearly of the form of the common Perch; the scales large and ciliate, and rise unusually high on
the anal fin.
The bead sharp, declivous, squamous; the mouth low, the teeth, tongue, palate, 8tc. as usual.
The eyes supreme, large; iris silvery. Nostrils high, close to each other, unequal, the posterior oval.
The lateral line arched to the end of the dorsal fin, then straight, and exactly middle.
The fins. The spinous portion of the dorsal fin, arched, the ramous short, slightly rounded; the pectoral
long, acuminate at top; the second ray of the ventral setaceous. The ramous rays of the anal declining; the
second spinous ray remarkably stout; the caudal broad, emarginate.
The colour. T h e head light, resplendent, reflecting various colours. The back light gray, growing paler
towards the line, below which it is of a yellowish white. The dorsal fin a little dusky, with some small black
spots on the membrane. The other fins have a cast of yellow.
The lengtb of the subject described, two feet; but that of the specimen drawn only eight inches.
N o . C X X X I I I .
G a ste r o s teu s sjnnis dorsalibus tredecem; cauda oblonga cuspidata, utrinque aculeata ; pinnis
pectoralibus perlongis.
T h e G a s t e r o .steus w i th th ir teen dorsal s p in e s ; an o b lo n g sw o rd -p o in t ed ta il, w i th p r ic k le s
o n b o th edge s ; th e p e c to ra l fin s e x t r em e ly lo n g .
Gasterosteus volitans Linn. S. J{. p . 49 \ .
C a lled b y th e N a t iv e s K o d ipu n g i .
i i X X -
Z . v i i . D . 2 5 . Z. 13 V. 6. A. I ] . C. 15.
T h e body oblong-ovate, compressed, broad at the shoulders, covered with very minute sub-orbicular scales,
carinate, teuaciou.s.
The head large, compressed, rugged, and armed with numerous prickles; the front declivous, depressed, or
furrowed; several prickles near the point of the ro.strum. Six small cirri only were found; one, on each side,
from the upper jaw, and two from the edge of the opercula.
Mouth oblique, large, wide; lips simple. Jaws extractile, the upper emarginate, and longer than the under.
Teeth numerous, small, aceróse, close. Tongue short, oval-form, smooth, free. Palate wide, rough in the fore
part. Eyes close to the vertex, middle size, remote from the rostrum, orbicular. The ujDper margin of the orbit
prickly. Nostrils double, gaping, distant from each other, the anterior guarded with prickles.
The branchial opercula somewhat three-laminated, bony, scabrous, and tlie two anterior armed with many
spines; the posterior lamina ends in a soft point, behind wliich are two black spots. The membrane covered,
but visible; the aperture large.
The trunk. The back a little arched and somewhat carinate, the breast and belly convex, plane; sides and
tail compressed. Lateral line supreme, a little carinate, at first arched, then descends obliquely, and terminates
at the base of the caudal fin. Anus nearer the tail than the head.
The fn s . Tlie dorsal single, occupying the whole back, from the neck to within half an inch of the
tail. The thirteen spinal rays very long, the longest ray two inches four lines; the first, one inch in length;
the last, eight lines; all arc connected by a tender membrane, which reaches little more than half an
inch from the root, and is continued upon the spines, but breaks off upon handling ; the ¡xisterior part of the
fin is assurgent to a point. Tlie pectoral low, very broad, acuminate at top, and extends to near the caudal
f i ll ; the ventral long, lanceolate; the anal remote, assurgent, and jximted, like the second dorsal; the caudal
fin oblong, a little rounded, but acuminate at the point: above and beneath, on the edges, are three distinct
prickles.
The colour. Tlie general colour is red, the throat, breast, and branchial membrane excepted, wliich are pure
white. The head pink, with streaks of deejier red. The trunk with transverse fillets, some pink, others of
yellowish-red, edged with pale-blue. The fins red: the pectoral and ventral (sometimes the dorsal) with
small black dots, on the rays and membrane, and white dots, resembling pearls, on the under side; the margin
of the ventral fins black; the anal and caudal red, without spots.
The lengtb, nine inches.