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166
THE TAPROBANIAN.
[August, 1886.
Height of body three and three-fourths inches ;
total length, the length of head one-fourth.
Anterior dorsal spine elevated, equals height of
body. Body vinous red, barred by eleven pur-
plish grey stripes, each scale with a spot of
brilliant emerald green. Head orange with violet
red-bordered stripes radiating from the eye, two
of these unite to form a broad band descending
from the 4th dorsal spine, past eye and mouth to
sub-opercle. A broad red band on edge of oper-
cles. Dorsal dark grey, with an orange band
covered with small blue spots ; anal vinous red
with orange border covered with small blue spots.
Caudal dark grey with large blue black edged spots.
11. Acanthopterygii, Cotto-scombriformes, Ca-
taphracti, Peristethus sp.
A single specimen obtained at Galle April 1883.
The genus is not recorded by Day. The follow-
ing is the diagnosis :—
D. X A. 15, lat. 24.
Pre-orbital processes short, their length being
contained 3| times between their extremity and
the anterior margin of the orbit. A pair of
spines on the occiput on either side of which is a
low ridge terminated by a small spine, anterior
vertical plates longer than broad. The opercular
ridge forms a strong* spine. Uniform red, lower
jaw with barbels, the exterior longest. The
fishermen said they did not know it. It had been
“ caught in 100 fathoms water,” which merely
means very deep water, probably 40 or 50
fathoms.
12. Pomacentridce.
Tetradrachmum trimaeulatum, Rupp,
Although not mentioned by Dr. Day this is
quite a common Colombo fish.
13. Acanthopterygii, Cotto scombriformes, Ma-
lacanthidae.
Malacanthus latovittatus, Lacep.
Mauritius, New Guinea.
Evidently a very rare fish; there is only one
skin in the British Museum list, and it is not re-
corded by Day. I have lately had our single
specimen of this remarkable form mounted and
exhibited. It was from the Colombo Market.
11. Acanthopterygii, Perciformes, Percidce.
Genyoroge macolor, C. fy F.
This beautiful black and white fish is not men-
tioned in Day. It is recorded in the British
Museum Catalogue from Amboyna, New Guinea
and Celebes. It must be rare here, as it was
totally unknown to any one connected with the
museum. The student will find this species a
test of his ichthyological knowledge for anything
more unlike a Genyoroge it is hard to imagine.
15. Pogonoperca ocellata, Gunth.
This remarkable fish must be very rare. The
entry in the British Museum is “ adult, stuffed,
habitat unknown.” This was, however, in 1857,
and it may have been since procured. As in the
case of the last species it was quite unknown to
the fishermen and my collectors. It was pur-
chased in January last. Its colouring bears a
striking resemblance to the flowers of an Aristo-
lochia.
16. Serranus sp.
Two specimens of a small serranus have been
lately purchased. Unfortunately only one is
preserved, and that is in a bad state. The follow-
ing is the diagnosis.
D 1 A X L. lat. 92.
18 9
Snout short. Maxillary bone reaches to hind
margin of orbit; Pre-opercle with very fine
serrature. Caudal slightly convex, brown; dorsal
and anal blackish, their soft portions with a very
narrow white border. Pectoral blackish with a
broad dull yellow band. Caudal blackish with a
deep white crescentic border.
It will be observed from the above list that the
fish not recorded by Day are all from the Malay
Archipelago, or Mauritius and the East African
Coast, in fact strictly inter-tropical fish, which
probably seldom or never go north of Madras.
It is quite possible that time will add more of
these species to our list, in which case the
“ Fishes of Ceylon” will form as voluminous a
work,if not more so, than the “ Fishes of India.”
Our collection of sharks and skates is a fine one,
as it ought to be, considering how well situated
the Museum is for procuring this class. The
following is a list of the larger or more striking
specimens.
17. Paloeichthyes, Chrondropterygii, Carcha-
riidoe.
Galeoeerdo rayneri, McDonald and Barrow.
Purchased Colombo Market, July 1881. Length
9 ft. grows larger ; not uncommon.
18. Zygoena Malleus.
Two, purchased, Colombo Market. Common,
length 12 ft. 7 in., a very large specimen, another
8 ft. 7 in. This species is known as the hammer-
headed shark.
THE TAPROBANIAN.
[August, 1886.
Height of body three and three-fourths inches ;
total length, the length of head one-fourth.
Anterior dorsal spine elevated, equals height of
body. Body vinous red, barred by eleven pur-
plish grey stripes, each scale with a spot of
brilliant emerald green. Head orange with violet
red-bordered stripes radiating from the eye, two
of these unite to form a broad band descending
from the 4th dorsal spine, past eye and mouth to
sub-opercle. A broad red band on edge of oper-
cles. Dorsal dark grey, with an orange band
covered with small blue spots ; anal vinous red
with orange border covered with small blue spots.
Caudal dark grey with large blue black edged spots.
11. Acanthopterygii, Cotto-scombriformes, Ca-
taphracti, Peristethus sp.
A single specimen obtained at Galle April 1883.
The genus is not recorded by Day. The follow-
ing is the diagnosis :—
D. X A. 15, lat. 24.
Pre-orbital processes short, their length being
contained 3| times between their extremity and
the anterior margin of the orbit. A pair of
spines on the occiput on either side of which is a
low ridge terminated by a small spine, anterior
vertical plates longer than broad. The opercular
ridge forms a strong* spine. Uniform red, lower
jaw with barbels, the exterior longest. The
fishermen said they did not know it. It had been
“ caught in 100 fathoms water,” which merely
means very deep water, probably 40 or 50
fathoms.
12. Pomacentridce.
Tetradrachmum trimaeulatum, Rupp,
Although not mentioned by Dr. Day this is
quite a common Colombo fish.
13. Acanthopterygii, Cotto scombriformes, Ma-
lacanthidae.
Malacanthus latovittatus, Lacep.
Mauritius, New Guinea.
Evidently a very rare fish; there is only one
skin in the British Museum list, and it is not re-
corded by Day. I have lately had our single
specimen of this remarkable form mounted and
exhibited. It was from the Colombo Market.
11. Acanthopterygii, Perciformes, Percidce.
Genyoroge macolor, C. fy F.
This beautiful black and white fish is not men-
tioned in Day. It is recorded in the British
Museum Catalogue from Amboyna, New Guinea
and Celebes. It must be rare here, as it was
totally unknown to any one connected with the
museum. The student will find this species a
test of his ichthyological knowledge for anything
more unlike a Genyoroge it is hard to imagine.
15. Pogonoperca ocellata, Gunth.
This remarkable fish must be very rare. The
entry in the British Museum is “ adult, stuffed,
habitat unknown.” This was, however, in 1857,
and it may have been since procured. As in the
case of the last species it was quite unknown to
the fishermen and my collectors. It was pur-
chased in January last. Its colouring bears a
striking resemblance to the flowers of an Aristo-
lochia.
16. Serranus sp.
Two specimens of a small serranus have been
lately purchased. Unfortunately only one is
preserved, and that is in a bad state. The follow-
ing is the diagnosis.
D 1 A X L. lat. 92.
18 9
Snout short. Maxillary bone reaches to hind
margin of orbit; Pre-opercle with very fine
serrature. Caudal slightly convex, brown; dorsal
and anal blackish, their soft portions with a very
narrow white border. Pectoral blackish with a
broad dull yellow band. Caudal blackish with a
deep white crescentic border.
It will be observed from the above list that the
fish not recorded by Day are all from the Malay
Archipelago, or Mauritius and the East African
Coast, in fact strictly inter-tropical fish, which
probably seldom or never go north of Madras.
It is quite possible that time will add more of
these species to our list, in which case the
“ Fishes of Ceylon” will form as voluminous a
work,if not more so, than the “ Fishes of India.”
Our collection of sharks and skates is a fine one,
as it ought to be, considering how well situated
the Museum is for procuring this class. The
following is a list of the larger or more striking
specimens.
17. Paloeichthyes, Chrondropterygii, Carcha-
riidoe.
Galeoeerdo rayneri, McDonald and Barrow.
Purchased Colombo Market, July 1881. Length
9 ft. grows larger ; not uncommon.
18. Zygoena Malleus.
Two, purchased, Colombo Market. Common,
length 12 ft. 7 in., a very large specimen, another
8 ft. 7 in. This species is known as the hammer-
headed shark.