[Footnote 1:  Cuv. and VALEN., Hist.  Nat. des Poissons, tom. xi. p. 249.  It is identical with S. tridactylus, Schn.]

But the most striking to the eye of a stranger are those fishes whose brilliancy of colouring has won for them the wonder even of the listless Singhalese.  Some, like the Red Sea Perch (Holocentrum rubrum, Forsk) and the Great Fire Fish[1], are of the deepest scarlet and flame colour; in others purple predominates, as in the Serranus flavo-caeruleus; in others yellow, as in the Choetodon Brownriggii[2], and Acanthurus vittatus, of Bennett[3], and numbers, from the lustrous green of their scales, have obtained from the natives the appropriate name of Giraway, or parrots, of which one, the Sparus Hardwickii of Bennett, is called the “Flower Parrot,” from its exquisite colouring, being barred with irregular bands of blue, crimson, and purple, green, yellow, and grey, and crossed by perpendicular stripes of black.

[Footnote 1:  Pterois muricata, Cuv. and Val. iv. 363. Scarpaena miles, Bennett; named, by the Singhalese, “Maharata-gini,” the Great Red Fire, a very brilliant red species spotted with black.  It is very voracious, and is regarded on some parts of the coast as edible, while on others it is rejected.]

[Footnote 2:  Glyphisodon Brownriggii, Cuv. and Val. v. 484; Choetodon Brownriggii, Bennett.  A very small fish about two inches long, called Kaha hartikyha by the natives.  It is distinct from Choetodon, in which BENNETT placed it.  Numerous species of this genus are scattered throughout the Indian Ocean.  It derives its name from the fine hair-like character of its teeth.  They are found chiefly among coral reefs, and, though eaten, are not much esteemed.  In the French colonies they are called “Chauffe-soleil.”  One species is found on the shores of the New World (G. saxatalis), and it is curious that Messrs. QUOY and GAIMARD found this fish at the Cape de Verde Islands in 1827.]

[Footnote 3:  This fish has a sharp round spine on the side of the body near the tail; a formidable weapon, which is generally partially concealed within a scabbard-like incision.  It raises or depresses this spine at pleasure.  The fish is yellow, with several nearly parallel blue stripes on the back and sides; the belly is white, the tail and fins brownish green, edged with blue.

It is found in rocky places; and according to BENNETT, who has figured it in his second plate, it is named Seweya.  It has been known, however, to all the old ichthyologists, Valentyn, Renard, Seba, Artedi, and has been named Chaetodon lineatus, by Linne.  It is scarce on the southern coast of Ceylon.]