REPORT ON THE PELAGIC FISHES. 13 



Psenes arafurensis, n. sp. (PI. II. fig. G). 



D. 7 I 20. A. oV L. lat. 47. 



The height of the body is contained once and two-thirds in the total length without 

 caudal ; the length of the head twice and two-thirds. Snout truncated, short, much 

 shorter than the eye, the diameter of which is two-fifths of the length of the head, and 

 less than the width of the interorbital space. Lower margin of the prseoperculum 

 crescent-shaped. Cheek entirely scaly. Anterior dorsal rather higher than the second. 

 Pectoral broad, as long as the head without snout and as the ventrals, which extend 

 beyond the origin of the anal fin. Silvery ; tail with some obscure cross-bands which 

 extend over, and are more distinct on, the anal fin. Ventrals black in their basal and 

 terminal thirds. 



One specimen, 1^ inches long, was obtained in the Arafura Sea, with the surface-net 

 September 23, 1874. 



This specimen is evidently the young of a species attaining to a larger size. 



Nomeus gronovii, Gm 



This is a common pelagic fish between the Tropics, young specimens being found in 

 almost all surface gatherings. The four specimens brought home by the Challenger 

 were obtained accompanying Physalias, in the vicinity of the Low Archipelago, on 

 September 16, 1875. They are from ^ to 1| inches long. 



Platystethus huttonii, Gthr. (PL II. figs. H, I). 



Platystethus huttonii, Giinth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1876, vol. xvii. p. 395. 

 D. 13-15 I 36.- A. ^V L. lat. 90. 



Body much compressed, its height being one-third, the length of the head one-fourth, 

 of the total (without caudal). Eye of moderate size, two-ninths of the length of the 

 head, situated a little before the middle of the head, not far below the upper profile. 

 Prseorbital at least as wide as the eye. Mouth oblique, with the lower jaw very 

 prominent, very narrow, the maxillary not extending to the front margin of the eye. 

 Dorsal spines feeble, of moderate length ; the soft dorsal and anal low. Anal spines 

 short, but stronger than those of the dorsal fin. Pectoral broad, rounded, half the length 

 of the head. Ventrals small. Caudal deeply forked. Silvery ; back above the lateral 

 line greenish ; the spinous dorsal black. 



This species was described from two specimens, 6^ inches long, sent by Professor 

 Hutton. from Dunedin, New Zealand. It is admitted here in the series of pelagic 



