74:0 ADDITIONS TO THE FAUNA OP LORD HOWE ISLAND, 



? MONACANTHUS NITENS. 



1 Monacmithtis nitens, Hollard, Ann. Sc. IsTat. (4) ii. 1854, p. 364, 

 pi. xiv. f. 4, Tongatabu. 



2[onacanthus nitens^ Waite, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, xix. 

 1894, p. 224, Maroubra Bay and Thetis Report, p. 62, 1898. 



D. 26-29. A. 26-28. 



Scales of body indistinct, each bearing a strong conical spine, 

 erected upon a broad base, and increasing in size posteriorly; all 

 the fin rays spinulose; no caudal armature. Depth of body at 

 the Ijase of the ventral spine 14 to If, length of head 2^ to 2\ in 

 the total length; upper profile of snout concave, of interorbital 

 region strongly convex, of interdorsal space flat. Eye high, but 

 not encroaching on the dorsal profile, its diameter 23^ to 3 in the 

 length of the snout, which is 3i to 3f in the total length. Inter- 

 orbital width equal to the eye. Grill-opening small, |^ to y of the 

 eye, but little oblique, situated below the posterior border of the 

 eye and extending downwards to opposite the upper third of 

 the base of the pectoral fin. Dorsal spine originating above the 

 middle of the eye, the distance between its origin and the tip of the 

 snout 1~ to 2 in that from the base of the caudal; the sides are 

 armed with a series of very long, acute, widely separated barbs, 

 directed outwards and downwards, those of one side alternating 

 with the other; near the tip anteriorly is a double series of small 

 alternate spines, the proximal portion being armed with several 

 irregular series of spinules directed upwards; height of spine 1^ 

 to 1;^ times the length of the snout; interdorsal space 3^ in the 

 total length ; second dorsal commencing midway between the 

 origin of the dorsal sjjine and the base of the caudal, its rays and 

 those of the anal low, with convex outer border, the anterior 

 middle rays the longest, about f of the spine : ventral spine well 

 developed, movable, strongly spinulose, the free portion as long 

 as or a little longer than the eye : pectoral with 14 rays, about ^ 

 the length of the snout : caudal rounded, li to 1^ in the snout; 

 depth of caudal peduncle twice its length. Dark blue-gray, with 



